I know, I know…yesterday was the day I was supposed to announce the winner, but for some reason, I hate putting up an entry that’s just text; I wanted to add a recipe, photos, and a little chatter. I plum forgot to plan ahead, plus, the week zipped by.
Initially, I was going to pile a ton of fruit on top of some cinnamon roll pancakes I had for breakfast and exclaim ‘LOOK, this is what I had for breakfast today!’. To me, that was better than just text. Well, I forgot and ate the pancakes. Then I remembered my little take on the infamous Momofuku Ginger Scallion noodles I made last January. I hated the way the photos turned out, so it was one of the ‘meals in limbo’ as I call them. ‘Meals in limbo’ or ‘food in limbo’ are photos of dishes I make that sit in my photo program forever; a huge, invisible question mark looming over them. Should or shouldn’t I delete them? No, I just may need them one day for..for…for..
In any event, all of these limbo dishes are actually delicious, it’s just the photos that keep them from moving up and out. I mostly keep them as a reminder that I will make this dish again, and try to get better photos so I can blog it. My gosh, will you listen to me? I’m possessed by the food blog photography demon! A dish must be photo-worthy for me to blog about it. I need help.
Having said that, I have some nerve kvetching about photos, because, as I’ve mentioned about a million times, I don’t have enough natural light for photo taking, so I have to use artificial lights, (Lowel Ego Lights). Look, I’m going to be honest here, no matter what 5000 artificial light photography tutorials teach you, unless you have a professional studio with $$$$ worth of lighting, you’re not going to ever get the same effect as a naturally lit plate of food.
You lose SO many details with artificial lighting, not to mention the color is always a little off (thank god for Photoshop). Am I telling you not to invest in some artificial lights for overcast days and photo taking at night? NO, because a Lowel Ego Light or two definitely beats home lighting (tungsten, flourescent etc), by a few miles, but again..natural light beats artificial by several hundred miles.
It really breaks my heart when I cannot get a good shot of a particularly pretty dessert, or a savory dish where you really need those mouth-watering details to shine. For some reason, savory foods don’t seem to photograph as well as sweets.
OK, steppin’ off my whiny urban soapbox, but it felt good to vent about it for the millionth time.
Sorry.
Now onto the ginger garlic scallion noodles (I’m sure many already scrolled to the bottom to see if they won the dish. I know I would have). These are NOT David Chang’s Ginger Scallion Noodles, just in case you typed ‘ginger scallion noodles’ into a search engine and ended up here (well, one a trillion chance you ended up here). However, these are also really good ginger GARLIC scallion noodles, based on David’s, but tweaked to the way I like them. All I really did was futz like crazy with his recipe..ie; increased some ingredients, omitted some ingredients, and added some ingredients. Don’t get me wrong, his ginger scallion noodles are absolutely diiiiivine; I just felt like playing with his brilliance in regards to my tastes.
First I decreased the ginger a bit, then added extra garlic and shallots. I used dark soy sauce in lieu of light, increased the vinegar but used rice vinegar instead of wine (yeah, I know, like that really makes a difference), increased the grapeseed oil and added fish sauce, toasted sesame oil, honey, and red chile pepper flakes I also ‘chopped’ everything and kept it rustic, nothing finely minced, although I did take care to make sure no one got a huge chunk of garlic or ginger to chew on, also known as, minced enough.
According to my tasters, this is the freshest, most wonderful version they’ve had (well, they’ve never had David’s, so I take it with a grain of salt). Seconds and thirds were requested – clean plates all around. I ate a whole half pound of it last night. When tasters found out, I was scolded for not sharing. Two friends asked me to make this for a party they’re having next weekend “….lots of it. ”
I’d say it was a success. Please make this, then tell me what you think!
FINALLY, the winner of the Le Creuset Oval Baker! I didn’t use random integer because there was a pingback, a brief convo between me and someone, and well, just felt it would be more fair to do it another way. I wrote down every name in order, then placed the sheet of paper with the names across the room on the floor, and tossed a penny on it (I know what you’re thinking lol). The penny landed on…*fake drum roll*…LIA! Congratulations! I’ll email you to get your info and send it right out!
Ginger Garlic Scallion Noodles
- 1 large bunch of green onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons of ginger finely minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped shallots
- ⅓ cup grapeseed or other neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seed oil *
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce *
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar *
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 crushed red chile pepper or 1 teaspoon red chile flakes
- kosher salt to taste
- ½ to ¾ lb (8 to 12 ounces - depending on your sauce to pasta ratio preference) fresh noodles of your choice
- Heat up the grapeseed oil in a saucepan over high heat until the oil is shimmery and hot, but not smoking.
- Add the green onions, ginger, garlic and shallots at once, but be careful, the oil will bubble and splatter. The onions will sizzle and wilt almost immediately and turn a bright green.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir the sauce with a wooden spoon. Add the fish sauce, sesame seed oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, honey, crushed red chile pepper and salt to taste.
- Let sit for 15 minutes, then toss with your favorite noodles. I used fresh Chinese egg noodles.*
- Alternatively, dump the ginger garlic scallion oil mixture in a large mortatrand pestle or the food processor, and pulverize it a bit , smashing the scallions ( or pulse a few times in the food processor) so they're more saucy over the noodles. I did that last week, and MMMMMM!
While you’re here, and before you X out, please take a moment and click HERE to see how you can help the victims of the quake and tsunami in Japan. You can even text donations, which is what I did to start. Every little bit helps.
Congrats to the winner! Those noodles look soooo delicious.
Cheers,
Rosa
Congrats to Lia! I’m ready for lunch now…noodles please!
Well, I do actually think that first dish looks kind of brilliant! (I mean the photo as well as the dish obviously!) But you’re right it’s hard to create natural looking light with something as articifial light although it can be done… I still prefer natural light but it’s not always very good here. Ofcourse I do have the added luxury of having a studio with $$$$ in equipment..lol… but I still prefer daylight!
I’ve been thinking about it.. and I’ve come to the conclusion that the lack of natural light in your home isn’t your problem. It’s your eye sight. Yes, you heard me.
Please don’t take any of this the wrong way as I am sooooooo looking forward to our slammin’ honeymoon – but you, my love, are batshit crazy if you think any of the photos above are bad. BAT! SHIT! CA-RAZY!! They are GORGEOUS, Lis. Seriously.
You’ve got something not many of the “food photography” blogs have – you have a true talent in the kitchen, a great writing skill, an eye for what looks good on a plate or a glass, etc. and you’ve got a fantastic sense of humor. You’re blog is the best of ALL WORLDS not just pretty pictures.
Even if you weren’t my betrothed.. I’d cook your food before I’d even consider cooking some of the “photo” blogs’ food. Not a slam against them at all – they are great at what they do.. but you are better than so many of them.
SO STOP WITH THE THINKING YOUR PHOTOS SUCK STUFF! You simply rock. 🙂
XOXOXOXOLOVEYOUXOXOXOXOXO
Exactly. What she said. And I always believe her.
sounds like an interesting combination, definately one to try someday
I’ve had Momofuku’s Ginger Scallion noodles and they are indeed divine. Like your twist on them, looking forward to trying it!
This is a must try for our Friday dinners, love the ginger and scallions pairing with noodles!
Those limbo dishes, as you phrase them are actually very inviting. I wish I could be inspired to cook but alas!
WHAT??? I did not win? 😉
Really nice dish…and the photos look great but yeah savory food can be tough. I am slowly learning about real food photography, got a few things on ebay like reflectors (still in package) but need to set up table like thing by window for light cause now stuff goes on the TV for pics with daylight. Just getting a 10$ 5 in 1 disc reflector may help a lot.
Looks great and I am really hungry now. Thee ginger and scallion combo makes me want to suck those noodles up. Great photos too as always.
Congratulations Lia 🙂 Somehow the combination of ginger and scallion is great…many dishes that my mom makes has this combo…the noddle look delicious with it. Have a great week!
That looks perfect, love all the scallions. Seems like a good balance of sweet and savory too.
What a fantastic dish of noodles! YUM!!! I will DEFINITELY be trying these in garden season!!
But,…. I never enter contests. I never want to win. I wanted this so much for my daughter… COngratualtions to LIA!
🙂
Valerie
This is my kind of comforting Asian-style meal.
Congrats to Lia
Have a great day,
Claudia
I just love this kind of dish. It’s simple, yet delicious!
Even having missed the challenge, it’s worth trying the Papas, they are very good! Thanks for your lovely comment 🙂
This looks so good, i havent had a good noodle dish liek this for so long!
Congrats to Lia, I love my Le Creuset dutch oven! These noodles look incredible, I need to make these soon! Yummy! 🙂
What a sensational noodle creation! Simple, maybe, but very very flavoursome and delicious. And so is your photography!
This looks fabulous–I love your tweaks to the recipe. I think your photos are great, but I also have horrible light and I sympathize with your frustration. I, too, prefer natural light.
This looks really good. The addition of the crushed chile pepper is a fantastic idea!
How did I not win? I even read the entire post, and I hate green onions, slowly scrolling down until I saw…Lia’s name. Congratulations, Lia! I’ve been seeing lots of these noodles around, mostly David Chang’s, and they sound great other than the scallions. Maybe I’ll have to make a batch with shallots and something green, like cilantro.
🙂
Well it looks like the “futzing” you did with this recipe (and rescuing it from the depths of your meals in limbo files paid off. YUM? Honestly, I love recipes like this oozing with onions and on noodles? Well. As far as lighting goes, the one with the spoon all ready to insert in my mouth is excellent — they are all good. I think what happens (2 cents worth…) is that overly bright on everything white is really popular right now amongst many, and well, if you’re like me and like to shoot on a dark surface with sometime huge contrasts between light and dark, people just don’t get it. My husband bought my light set (two w/stands & umbrellas) for $100. The bulbs are another whole story, but I take care of them and am learning. Now. I’m totally making these noodles.
I would seriously lick that plate clean!
I’ve had Momofuku’s Ginger Scallion noodles and they are indeed divine. Like your twist on them, looking forward to trying it!
YUMMM! I love ginger scallion noodles! I instantly fell in love with this the second I saw a pic of it! If you have time, please check out my post on it here: http://shecooksandheeats.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/momofukus-ginger-scallion-noodles/. Now, you’ve got me craving for more lol 🙂
Pingback: Ginger Scallion Noodles | Inquiring Chef
Pingback: Vegan Ginger Scallion Noodles | Eat,live,burp