Honey Teriyaki Noodles with Wasabi

When Luke took his first bite of these noodles, he said, "Oh my God, what's in this?" Imagine that coming from a kid who tries a new recipe every day. These slick noodles are tossed in the most wonderful teriyaki-style sauce; a sweet, tangy and fiery blend of honey, soy, mirin, sesame, and wasabi paste (plus a little celery, onion, garlic, and cilantro). It's a complete flavor explosion. And it makes it to the table in under 20 minutes.

I think what's unique about this sauce is the flavor balancing act. Salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy - all coming together to form a glossy glaze for those tender noodles. And don't feel like you need to keep the dish vegan - I'm sure cooked chicken, steak and seafood would LOVE to join this noodle party. Of course, if you want more protein AND a vegan dish, add seared or grilled tofu.

About the wasabi: This recipe calls for wasabi paste, not powder. If you already have the powder handy, just turn it into a paste before using (follow the package instructions).

About the noodles: I used the pre-cooked noodles sold in airtight bags. You can find them in the refrigerated section AND shelf-stable section of your grocery store. If you want to use dried noodles, simply cook them first (according to the package directions).

Note: For a truly "vegan" dish, use bee-free honey or substitute maple syrup.

Honey Teriyaki Noodles with Wasabi

1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin (Japanese rice wine)
1 teaspoon wasabi paste
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon dried cilantro
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 package (14 ounces) ready-to-serve stir-fry noodles (not dried), such as Hokkien (see note above)
Salt and ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, mirin, wasabi paste, vinegar, sesame oil, and cilantro. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery, onion and garlic and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the vegetables soften, stirring frequently.
Add the honey mixture and bring to a simmer. Add the noodles and cook for 3 minutes, until the noodles are heated through and the sauce thickens, stirring frequently (using tongs is easiest). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serves 4