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Garlic Soy Pan-Fried Noodles

Springy noodles tossed in a glossy garlic-soy sauce — faster than delivery, cheaper too.

12 min total 12 min hands-on Serves 1

About this recipe

Garlic Soy Pan-Fried Noodles is a chinese lunch for one that is a fast, high-heat stir-fry — have everything chopped before the wok gets hot., and it takes around 12 min start to finish. We sized it for a solo cook and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.

Good to know

Vegan-friendly* Contains sesame Contains soy Contains gluten

* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.

Ingredients

  • 1 portion noodles
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1.5 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 stalks spring onion
  • 1 tsp sugar

Equipment

induction hobpotfrying pan / wok

Method

  1. 1

    Boil noodles until just tender, drain, toss with a little oil.

    ~5 min

  2. 2

    Fry sliced garlic gently in oil until pale gold, 1 min.

    ~1 min

  3. 3

    Add soy, sugar and a splash of pasta water; bubble 30 sec.

    ~2 min

  4. 4

    Toss noodles through the sauce with sesame oil and spring onion.

    ~3 min

Cook something else →

Smart swaps

Out of something? Try one of these.

Noodles
whatever you have — rice, instant noodles, or even pasta in a pinch.
Garlic
garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
Soy sauce
tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
Sesame oil
use sparingly — a tiny bit of tahini, or just skip it; it’s a finishing flavour.
Spring onion
thinly sliced onion or chives for the finish.

Cook's notes

  • Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
  • Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
  • Keep the white and green parts separate — whites go in early with the aromatics, greens at the end. How to chop spring onions →
  • Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 12 min.

Storage & leftovers

Cool, then store airtight in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout; add a splash of water if it has dried out.

Frequently asked

How long does Garlic Soy Pan-Fried Noodles take to make? +

Around 12 min from start to finish, almost all of it hands-on.

How many people does this recipe serve? +

As written it serves 1. To cook for 2–4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.

What equipment do I need? +

You’ll want: induction hob, pot, frying pan / wok. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.

What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +

Common swaps for this dish: Noodles → whatever you have — rice, instant noodles, or even pasta in a pinch; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push; Soy sauce → tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water. See the full list of smart swaps above.

Can I make Garlic Soy Pan-Fried Noodles ahead of time? +

Cool, then store airtight in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout; add a splash of water if it has dried out.

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