Description
Carrot and cabbage noodle stir fry is a quick, colorful vegetarian meal loaded with crisp vegetables and tender noodles tossed in a savory garlic-ginger sauce. It’s an easy 25-minute dinner perfect for busy weeknights, bringing vibrant flavors and satisfying textures together in a wholesome dish.
Ingredients
Noodles
- 8 ounces rice noodles, lo mein, or spaghetti
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil or vegetable oil, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 large carrot, julienned or shredded
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, sliced
Sauce
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes, optional
For Serving
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
- Fresh cilantro, optional
- Lime wedges, optional
Instructions
- Cook Noodles: Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking and prevent them from sticking together.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey or maple syrup, sesame oil, cornstarch, water, and optional chili flakes until smooth.
- Heat Oil and Cook Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame or vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onion, carrot, and red bell pepper. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften but remain slightly crisp.
- Add Cabbage, Garlic, and Ginger: Toss in shredded cabbage, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Continue stir-frying for another 2 to 3 minutes to combine flavors and soften cabbage slightly.
- Add Noodles and Remaining Oil: Add the cooked noodles to the pan along with the remaining tablespoon of oil. Toss everything together thoroughly to mix all components.
- Add Sauce and Stir-Fry: Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles and vegetables. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and evenly coat the noodles and veggies.
- Finish with Green Onions: Stir in sliced green onions for freshness.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with sesame seeds, additional green onions, and optionally fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can use lo mein, ramen, udon, rice noodles, or even spaghetti based on preference or availability.
- Add mushrooms, broccoli, snap peas, or edamame to include more vegetable variety.
- Substitute maple syrup for honey to make a vegan version of this dish.
- For extra protein, add tofu, chicken, shrimp, or beef as desired.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days and reheated in a skillet to maintain texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course, Stir Fry, Vegetarian
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
