Noodle stir-fry is a dish in which pasta is pan-fried together with vegetables, meat, or a combination of the two. Stir-frying is a common method of cooking Chinese dishes, and as a result, noodle stir-fry is frequently made with spices such as soy sauce or sesame oil, which are common features in Chinese dishes. There are a number of different ways to prepare this dish, and many recipes to be found online. With a little effort, a stir-fry can be a healthy option as well, particularly if whole-grain pasta is used for the noodles.
When cooks are making noodle stir-fry, they usually do it in stages, cooking one ingredient thoroughly in the pan before moving on to the next. This is because the ingredients in a stir-fry are not meant to be steamed or cooked slowly, but seared in the pan. For that to happen, each one of the ingredients typically needs to be spread out in a thin layer in the bottom of the pan. Typically, making a stir fry begins with simply heating a layer of oil in the pan, such as sesame oil or vegetable oil, depending on the preference of the chef.
If there will be meat in the noodle stir-fry, such as chicken, pork, or beef, it will generally be cut into thin strips and cooked thoroughly in the pan, then removed. The same process is then repeated with any vegetables. Broccoli, peppers, and snow peas are some of the most popular choices for this dish. Spices and flavorful vegetables are also frequently added to this dish, such as scallions and garlic. Throughout this process, chefs will frequently add soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, or black bean sauce to give the dish more liquid and more flavor.
The pasta for the noodle stir-fry is also important. Virtually any type of noodles may be used; though traditional Asian egg noodle varieties are a particular favorite, whole-wheat noodles add some fiber to the dish and thereby can make the dish slightly healthier. Chefs will first cook noodles separately in boiling water before adding them to the stir-fry pan with the vegetables and meat, if applicable, to thoroughly coat them in sauce and flavoring; some will also add an egg at this point. Of course, some cooks have different methods of preparation, but this is the most typical. The dish is then served hot.