Spicy Asian Noodle Stir-Fry with Plant-Based Ground & Cabbage

A classic spicy Asian noodle stir-fry recipe goes vegan with beefy plant-based ground that you spice up, or going straight to a spicy plant-based chorizo. You can also go full on DIY with a homemade plant-based ground using whole foods. Mingled with cabbage and plenty of garlic and scallion, it’s an easy, luscious dish for noodle fans.

The original recipe that inspired this plant-based version uses, I’m sorry to say, ground pork. Here there are lots of easy ways to replace it. Whichever you opt for, the spicy “meat” mingling with delectable noodles and cabbage makes for an easy, hearty dish with plenty of personality.

With so many ground meat alternatives on the market, there’s absolutely no reason to use the animal product. Switching to plant based is one of the single best ways to reduce your environmental footprint. And it’s kinder to animals and your heart.

Plant-based ground or chorizo options

• Beyond Meat Beyond Beef Crumbles
• Cacique Soy Chorizo
• Gardein Ultimate Beefless Ground
• Lightlife Smart Ground
• No Evil El Zapatista
• Tofurky Plant-Based Chorizo Crumbles
• Trader Joe’s Beef-less Ground
• Upton’s Naturals Vegan Chorizo Seitan Crumbles
• A DIY whole foods option: Walnut & Mushroom Beefy Vegan Crumbles

What kind of noodles to use: You can use any kind of Asian noodle you’d like: udon (which is most authentic to this dish), soba (buckwheat noodles), or rice noodles. You can also use regular linguine if you want to go with a more common pasta. They’re all good!

Photographs by Hannah Kaminsky, BittersweetBlog.com.

Explore more …

• Vegan Cabbage Recipes
• Pad See Ew with Plant-Based Protein
• Asian Noodles with Green Beans and Walnuts
• Hoisin-Ginger Udon Noodles
• Warm Asian-Inspired Noodle Dishes
• Colorful, tasty stir-fries

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Yield: 4 to 6

Spicy Asian Noodle Stir-Fry with Plant-Based Ground & Cabbage

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A classic Asian noodle dish goes vegan with beefy plant-based ground that you spice up, or going straight to a spicy plant-based chorizo.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 8-ounce package udon, soba, or other Asian noodles (or use linguine)
• 2 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil
• 5 cups coarsely shredded green cabbage
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 to 10 ounces plant-based ground or plant-based chorizo (see options in Notes)
• 1/4 cup good-quality ketchup
• 2 teaspoons sriracha or other hot sauce, or more, to taste
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika or BBQ seasoning blend
• 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh or squeeze-tube ginger
• 4 to 5 scallions, thinly sliced
• Crushed peanuts or sesame seeds for topping

Instructions

1. Cook the noodles according to package directions until al dente, then drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat half of the oil in a stir-fry pan. Add the cabbage and garlic and stir-fry over high heat until the cabbage is tender-crisp and just starting to be touched with brown spots, about 5 minutes. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
3. Turn the heat down to medium high and add the remaining oil to the same pan. Add the ground (break up with a spatula if clumpy), ketchup, sriracha (use less or eliminate if you’re using a spicy vegan chorizo product), smoked paprika, and about a tablespoon of the teriyaki sauce. 
4. Stir together over medium-high heat until well blended. Let cook undisturbed for a minute or two, until the underside is browned, then turn the mixture over with a spatula and let the underside brown again. Break the mixture up again if need be.
5. Add the cooked noodles, ginger, remaining teriyaki sauce, and a bit more than half of the scallions to the pan. Stir in the cabbage mixture as well.
6. Use a large fork to distribute the spicy ground through the noodles while stir-frying over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. 
7. Serve straight from the pan, topping each serving with the remaining scallions, plus some crushed peanuts or sesame seeds.

Notes

Some brands of plant-based ground or chorizo:

• Beyond Meat Beyond Beef Crumbles 
• Cacique Soy Chorizo
• Gardein Ultimate Beefless Ground
• Lightlife Smart Ground
• No Evil El Zapatista
• Tofurky Plant-Based Chorizo Crumbles
• Trader Joe’s Beef-less Ground
• Upton's Naturals Vegan Chorizo Seitan Crumbles
• Or a DIY whole foods option: Walnut & Mushroom Beefy Vegan Crumbles
  

See more pasta & noodle dishes and ways to veganize classic recipes.