Grandma's Rainy Day Kimchi Noodle Soup

This is a variation of another dish my grandmother made when she stayed with us. Don’t let the number of ingredients freak you out. They’re mostly seasoning and spices and not a lot of chopping, mincing, or dicing. Bok choy and shitake mushrooms are two of my favorite vegetables and I added these two items to the recipe. I also switched out the anchovies broth for water and added dashida, which is a soup stock that comes in anchovy, clam or beef flavors. I use beef dashida.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 bowls

Ingredients

• 16  ounces  of fresh  Chinese egg noodles (Lo mein noodles)
• 3  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 6  garlic cloves, minced
• 8  ounces  pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
• 2  teaspoons  rice wine vinegar
• 6 -8  cups water
• 3  tablespoons soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons  dashida, powder (Beef flavored soup stock)
• 2  teaspoons ginger, grated
• 2  cups  cabbage kimchi, chopped in big pieces
• 4  ounces shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 7  ounces firm tofu, cut into 1-inch squares
• 4  baby bok choy, quartered
• 2  scallions, thinly sliced
• 2  teaspoons  dark sesame oil
•  salt and pepper (Add a little salt and pepper at a time and taste as you go. The kimchi and soy sauce may be enough s)
•  sriracha sauce (Optional but highly recommended.)

Directions

1. In a large pot add vegetable oil and garlic and sauté until soft. Add pork and cook until it is slightly browned. Season with salt, pepper and rice wine vinegar and stir for 2 minutes. Add kimchi and sauté for 3 minutes.
2. Add the water, soy sauce, dashida, and ginger. Stir and simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes. Add the mushrooms and tofu and turn up the heat to medium. Cook for 3 minutes.
3. Carefully add the egg noodles, bok choy and just enough water to cover all of the ingredients. Stir gently and scrape the bottom of the pot to make sure the noodles are not sticking. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Putting It All Together.
5. Equally divide the soup in four large bowls. Drizzle the sesame seed oil and top with scallions. For that extra kick and flavor, add sriracha sauce (For those who can handle the heat).