RAINBOW PEPPERS AND SHRIMP WITH RICE NOODLES

Rainbow Peppers and Shrimp With Rice Noodles image

You can now find brown rice noodles in many supermarkets and whole foods stores. For a vegetarian version of this dish, try it with tofu instead of shrimp.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Time 45m

Yield Serves four

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

7 ounces thin rice stick noodles 1/2 of a 14-ounce package, preferably brown rice noodles
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon soy sauce (more to taste)
2 tablespoons Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons minced ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
3/4 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons peanut oil or canola oil
1 large red bell pepper, cut in 2-inch julienne
1 large yellow bell pepper, cut in 2-inch julienne
4 scallions, minced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

Steps:

Place the noodles in a large bowl and cover with warm water. Soak for at least 20 minutes until soft. Drain in a colander. With kitchen scissors, cut into 6-inch lengths. Set aside within reach of your wok or pan. Combine the broth, 2 teaspoons of the soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of the rice wine or sherry and sugar in a small bowl. Combine the garlic, 1 tablespoon of the ginger and the minced jalapeño in another bowl. Have all of your ingredients within reach of your wok or pan.
In a medium bowl, combine the cornstarch, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice wine or sherry and 1 tablespoon of the ginger. Stir together well. Lightly salt the shrimp and toss with the cornstarch mixture until coated.
Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or a 12-inch skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates from the surface within a second or two. Add the oil to the sides of the pan and tilt the pan to distribute. Add the garlic, ginger and jalapeño, and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Add the peppers and stir-fry for one minute. Add the shrimp along with any liquid in the bowl, and stir-fry for two to three minutes until pink and opaque. Add the scallions, drained noodles and the broth mixture, and stir-fry for one to two minutes until the noodles are just tender. Add the cilantro and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Stir in the sesame oil, remove from the heat and serve, with more soy sauce if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 375, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 50 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 16 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 803 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams