When you want hot noodles on a busy evening, you do not have to choose between a complicated recipe and simply making do. Udon, beef, and eggplant can come together in one wide pan. Black pepper adds a little lift, while bell pepper and scallion keep the flavor clear. If you do not have udon, use any noodle you have on hand.

Black pepper beef and eggplant udon

What you need

  • 1 to 2 portions frozen or precooked udon
  • Thin beef slices, eggplant, red bell pepper, and scallion
  • Minced garlic, freshly ground black pepper, and a little soy sauce or another seasoning you enjoy
  • Optional sesame or chili flakes; use suitable cooked tofu or more vegetables instead of beef if you prefer

Let one pan do the work

  1. Prepare the udon according to its package directions and drain. Cut the eggplant and bell pepper into easy-to-eat pieces.
  2. Heat a wide pan and cook the eggplant first, until soft with lightly browned edges. Set it aside.
  3. Use a little oil to cook the beef thoroughly, then quickly stir-fry garlic, bell pepper, and black pepper. Keeping separate utensils for raw and cooked foods is a safer habit.
  4. Return the udon and eggplant to the pan, add a little soy sauce or your preferred seasoning, toss, and finish with scallion.

Build it around tonight’s appetite

This is not a “standard meal” that needs to be calculated. Add greens or mushrooms if you want more vegetables; use less soy sauce and let black pepper and scallion do more of the work if you prefer a lighter flavor. Beef, gluten, soy, and sesame may not suit everyone, so substitute for your own allergies and eating needs.

Food-safety note: For food you are saving for the next meal, portion it into shallow containers and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking; act sooner in hot conditions. Reheat thoroughly before eating, and avoid cross-contact between raw and cooked foods or utensils.

Would you add more black pepper to this pan, or more scallion?

Source

FoodSafety.gov: refrigerating and reheating leftovers safely

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