When the cat’s away the mice will play. Or in this case, when Price is away, Nicole will eat garlic noodles. And Price was just in Vegas for a guys trip so I obviously made these!
Years ago I saw a post on White on Rice Couple for Garlic Butter Noodles. They were sharing a recipe they adapted from Jaden’s new The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook. Umm, big whoop! I’m Italian so I grew up on pasta with butter and a bit of garlic. Well, shutthefrontdoor this is totally different and amazing. I knew I would have to immediately make this recipe. The noodles, garlic, butter, some sugar, and fish sauce were all calling out to me.
I was hooked from the start. Price, not so much. So this is now a dish that I make when he is working late or away. When he works late the second he opens the door he exclaims ‘YOU MADE GARLIC NOODLES!!! NOOOOO!!!” Why does he protest so much? Because no matter how many times I brush my teeth I still stink of garlic. I don’t mind but I’m not on other end of it. So you have been warned, but I swear it is worth it.
The combination of the butter, garlic, and brown sugar is out of this world. The garlic is slowly cooked in the butter just enough to bring out the flavors. (Don’t burn it! If you do, start over!) Then when you add the brown sugar it becomes caramel-y with the butter. That alone is great but then you add the fish sauce and soy sauce and the whole thing get a 1-2 punch with umami flavors. The scallions are a nice touch for flavor and texture. I add the sambal bajak for some some heat and spice, which I can’t get enough of in this. The recipe is quick, addicting, and will be a favorite in no time!
Garlic Butter Noodles with Scallions and Sambal
serves 1
Ingredients
- 4-6 oz spaghetti pasta
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions
- 1-2 tablespoons of sambal bajak
Process
- Bring water to a boil in a medium size pot. Cook the pasta until al dente. Before straining set aside a 1/4 cup of pasta water.
- In the empty pot that you cooked the pasta in, melt the butter over medium- low heat. Add the garlic. Stir constantly to prevent the garlic from burning. Once the garlic is golden brown add the brown sugar in. Constantly mix the sugar until is starts to bubble. Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, and pasta water. Turn up the heat to cook until it just comes to a boil. Remove from the heat.
- Add the pasta back to the pot with the scallions and mix until all the noodles are evenly coated. Enjoy with some sambal bajak (and a breath mint!)
What do you make when your significant other is away? Seafood? Wine and cereal? Dinner becomes eating cake while standing over the sink.
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Fusion cuisine, distilled to its purest essence. This actually sounds great! Maybe I’ll whip it up for lunch. Thanks, honey bee!
I love everything that Jaden makes. addict
Somehow I missed this recipe in Jaden’s collection. Regardless, your version is the bomb! The buttery sweetness glazes garlic and provides a warm counterpoint to the rich soy and fish sauces. There’s just the right heat from the sambal, and crisp herbaceous greenery of the scallion. It took enormous willpower to not finish off the entire pot.
Thanks for posting!
I love pasta with loads of garlic, but haven’t yet tried something like this that has more Asian flavors. It sounds AMAZING!! Definitely worth the garlic breath, I am sure!
I’ve wondered about this recipe every time I flip through the cookbook! I’m gonna try it soon – maybe tonight if I have pasta!
OMG this looks amazing. Good job!
What a fun idea! Italian-Asian fusion!
Where do u get fish sauce??
I’ve picked it up at Asian Food markets. But your grocery store might have it in the Asian Food section/aisle. If you can’t find that then a little bit of oyster sauce will work. But if you don’t stress too much and just use soy sauce you’ll be a-okay!