Edamame Lo Mein

I have been busy lately but still finding time to cook some simple and delicious meals. This vegetarian dish is perfect for a weeknight. It comes from the cookbook Eating Well Cooks For Two.

8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
2 cups frozen edamame (shelled soybeans)
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup oyster sauce or vegetarian "oyster" sauce
1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 medium carrots, cut into matchsticks
2 small red bell peppers, cut into matchsticks

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add spaghetti and edamame and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, whisk scallions, oyster sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and crushed red pepper in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add carrots and bell peppers and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the pasta and edamame. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is crispy in spots, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sauce and stir to combine.





Get some water boiling and lets gather some ingredients. You will need some whole wheat spaghetti, frozen edamame, green onion,(which I didn't have) oyster sauce (they do make a vegetarian variety or you can just leave it out) rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, red pepper, vegetable oil, carrots and red bell pepper.




This is really the only prep you have to do and if your local grocery store has a salad bar, just stop in and grab them pre cut. This is a great tip if you are cooking for one. Salad bars let you buy small portions of ingredients so there is no waste, and you save time on prep.




Once your water is boiling drop in the pasta and the edamame. I know that some purists think that whole wheat pasta is evil, but in a dish like this it is a good choice because its very filling and adds another layer of flavor.




While your pasta boils with the edamame, cut up the green onion (if you have it) and combine it in a bowl with the oyster sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and red pepper. Stir it until the sugar is dissolved.




Next you want to drop your cut veggies in a frying pan with the vegetable oil, I used peanut oil. Cook those for 3-4 minutes until softened.




Drain your pasta and edamame.




Get it in the pan with the veggies.




Pour on the sauce and give it a stir to combine and you are ready to eat.




Simple, quick and delicious. You won't miss the meat as the whole wheat pasta is filling and the sauce gives it such a great flavor. If you don't have or don't like edamame you can replace it with peas or even green beans. Lots of variety means you can make this often and change it up.