Shirataki Noodles Stir-Fry with Chicken

This hearty Shirataki Noodle reicpe, with a vegetable stir-fry and chicken, is loaded with tasty, fresh Asian flavors that seep right into the noodles. Shirataki Noodles, (also called Miracle Noodles and Konjac Noodles), have zero calories, are gluten-free and low-carb, to boot!

In this recipe, stir-fried Shirataki Noodles are infused with garlic, ginger, a medley of fresh vegetables, all tossed in a mouth-watering sesame-soy sauce that will leave your taste buds wanting more!

The Ingredients

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• Shirataki Noodles - They can almost always be found in Asian grocery stores, often in health food stores, and many larger supermarkets are starting to carry them. (Much more information on these noodles below in FAQ.)
• cooked chicken - You can either cook your own chicken or use a cooked Rotisserie chicken.
• neutral oil - Like grapeseed or vegetable.
• carrots - Look for firm, plump carrots, preferably without little roots on the bottom. These will be grated into the stir-fry.
• cilantro - Look for perky bunches and avoid any brown, bruised or yellow leaves.
• pea sprouts - Pea sprouts have a mildly sweet flavor, similar to peas, and they add a very subtle crunch to the stir-fry. Asian markets usually have them, and you should be able to find them in the produce section of most markets, near the bean and alfalfa sprouts.
• fresh garlic - Look for firm heads of garlic without any soft spots or green shoots. (Raw garlic cloves should be firm without any dark spots.)
• fresh ginger - Fresh ginger roots should be firm and feel heavy for their size
• scallions (green onions) - Choose green onion stalks with bright green tops and slightly white bulbs. We'll use both the green and white portions for this stir-fry.
• low-sodium Tamari - Tamari is typically gluten-free. If that's not important to you, low-sodium soy sauce is just as good.
• sesame oil - Toasted sesame oil adds a deeper flavor than regular sesame oil.
• chili paste - This is for a touch of heat. I use Sambal Oelek.
• sugar - Only a touch.
• black sesame seeds - In this recipe the black sesame seeds add to the look of the dish, but you can also use white.

(See recipe card below for quantities.)

Substitutions

• Chicken. The chicken can be replaced with shrimp, fish, steak or tofu.
• Pea sprouts. A few substitutions for pea sprouts are micro greens, bean sprouts, or radish sprouts. You can also use roughly chopped spinach leaves as an alternative.
• Cilantro. My first choice for a cilantro substitution in this recipe is basil. You can also use flat-leaf parsley or roughly chopped arugula.
• Tamari. Note that if you're gluten-free, you should not substitute the Tamari with Soy Sauce unless it specifically says it's gluten-free.

Recipe Tips

• To save time, you can buy pre-grated carrots and a Rotiserrie chicken.
• If you can, grate the fresh garlic and ginger with a microplane zester. This will turn it into a pulp, which will spread its flavor easily, and cling onto the Shirataki Noodles.
• Do not be alarmed by the fishy odor you'll smell when you first open the bag of Shirataki noodles. This is normal and it's easily removed by rinsing and boiling the noodles. (See instruction no. 1 in the recipe card below.)
• The chili paste in this recipe gives it a subtle kick. If you like spicy foods, double the amount listed.
• With the Tamari (or Soy Sauce) and the chili paste, I find salt and pepper aren't necessary, but this is your call. If you want to season to taste, here's how.

How to Make it

- Pour the noodles into a colander and rinse them with cold water. Then add them to a saucepan and add enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain, rinse, and return them to the saucepan.

- In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce with the sesame oil, chili paste and sugar. Pour this over the noodles, gently toss, cover and set aside.

- Lightly coat a sauté pan with oil and place it over medium heat. Add the carrots, pea sprouts, garlic and ginger, and stir to combine. When the carrots are tender, add the cilantro, chicken, scallions and sesame seeds. Stir, cook for about 30 seconds, and turn off the heat.

- Add the noodles to the sauté pan and turn the heat on to low. Gently toss all of the ingredients together, warm and serve.

(More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Serving Suggestions

• Chicken Shirataki Noodle Stir-Fry is quick and easy to prepare, so it's a perfect side or main course for a casual dinner party.
• If you make it without the chicken, you can serve it as a side with steak, fish or chicken. Asian Pear Marinated Steak would be perfect with it!
• And if you want to keep the meal vegetarian, omit the chicken and add a side of Bok Choy with Crispy Garlic or Honey-Sriracha Glazed Broccoli and Tofu. Delicious!
• You can serve this stir-fry cold, warm or hot.

Making it Ahead and Storage

This Shirataki Noodles recipe can be made up to three days ahead of time. With the sauce already incorporated, the noodles don't stick together when they're refrigerated.

Let the noodle dish cool completely and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you're ready to serve, heat in a pan or microwave just until it's warmed through. (Unless you're serving it cold.)

Variations

Below are a few ideas for other ingredients you can add to the noodles:

• Bok choy, sesame oil, chili oil and toasted sesame seeds.
• Add crispy wontons, tangerines, finely chopped cabbage, and an Asian dressing you love.
• A stir-fry of shiitake mushrooms and spinach would also be great with the noodles.
• You can also totally switch things up from the Asian vibe, and add melted butter, Parmesan and a bit of salt.

FAQ

I hope you love this noodle stir-fry as much as my family and I do!

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