Use fresh or dried noodles for this flavourful shrimp dish

The pungent flavours of Chinese five-spice powder, rice vinegar and soy sauce combine to create this quick shrimp dinner.

Chinese five-spice powder is used in many Asian dishes and includes cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns. It can be found in the spice section of the supermarket. It can also be used to flavor cooked rice or sprinkle on cooked vegetables.

Keep a bag of peeled, frozen shrimp in the freezer for quick dinners. They only take about 5 minutes to defrost in a bowl of cold water.

Buy peeled, raw shrimp.

White vinegar diluted with a little water can be used instead of rice vinegar.

Dried Chinese noodles or angel hair pasta can be used instead of fresh Chinese noodles.

A wok or skillet can be used to make the shrimp.

The quickest way to slice scallions is to snip them with a scissors.

Place water on to boil for noodles.

Make shrimp.

Boil noodles.

Staples: garlic, salt and black peppercorns.

FIVE-SPICE SHRIMP

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons Chinese rice vinegar

2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder

5 large garlic cloves, unpeeled

1 tablespoon reduced-sodium, soy sauce

2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided use

1/4 pound broccoli florets (about 1 1/2-cups)

3/4 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

Mix water, Chinese rice vinegar, Chinese five-spice, garlic, soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil together. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil over high heat in a wok or skillet until smoking. Add broccoli and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add shrimp and sauce and toss 2 minutes or until shrimp just turn pink. Remove shrimp and broccoli to a plate and boil sauce to reduce, about 1 minute. Remove garlic cloves. To serve, place shrimp on noodles and spoon sauce on top.

CHINESE NOODLES

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

1/4 pound fresh or steamed Chinese noodles

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1/4 cup scallions, sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large saucepan with 3 to 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add the fresh noodles. Bring back to a boil. Drain noodles leaving about 2 tablespoons water in the saucepan. For dried noodles, cook for 3 to 4 minutes before draining. Return noodles to saucepan with the reserved water. Add sesame oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss well. Place on two plates and sprinkle with scallions.

Tribune News Service