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Noodles and Vegetables

Also known as Noodles and Vegetables (Budget Student Stir-Fry)

Noodles and Vegetables is the budget student stir-fry that has fed millions of Nigerian university students — a quick combination of instant noodles with whatever vegetables are available, making a surprisingly nutritious and filling meal. By adding vegetables to instant noodles, the meal becomes significantly more nutritious than plain noodles while remaining extremely affordable.

Noodles and Vegetables, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 2 packets of instant noodles (Indomie or similar)
  • 1 big carrot, peeled and grated or julienned
  • 1 small green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 Atarodo (hot chilli peppers), sliced
  • 1 big handful of fresh spinach or shredded cabbage
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced — optional
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
  • The seasoning sachets from the noodle packets
  • 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
  • Salt to taste

Method

  1. 01

    Cooking the Noodles. Boil noodles in water for 2 minutes — slightly undercook. Drain, reserving 2 big tablespoons of cooking water.

  2. 02

    Stir-Frying the Vegetables. Heat oil in a wide pan or wok over high heat. Add sliced onion and Atarodo. Fry 1 minute. Add garlic if using. Add carrot and bell pepper. Stir-fry 3 minutes. Add spinach or cabbage. Stir-fry 1 minute.

  3. 03

    Combining. Add the drained noodles to the pan. Add all seasoning sachets, soy sauce and the reserved cooking water. Toss vigorously over high heat for 2 minutes until everything is evenly mixed and heated through. Taste and adjust salt.

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