Veg Hakka Noodles


Some of the best restaurants in Pune are successful because they satisfy the three following conditions—great food, low prices and proximity to a ladies hostel or college. As someone most of whose friends included hostelites, eating out was huge. And Fergusson College road with it's many cheap eats was a hot destination. In the early 90s a Chinese restaurant, China Garden, popped up on F.C. road that satisfied all of the above conditions and then some. Situated on the corner of that nameless street between Roopali and Vaishali that meets F.C. road at an angle it was a heaven sent for gourmands. The greatest part of this restaurant was that it's front part was a restaurant and the back half, a car garage. So you could feast on some spicy chicken lollipops as you waited for your car tune up. This tiny restaurant had a seating capacity of 8 tables, provided it wasn't raining. Then it was down to only 5. If you came in a car, the food would come to your car. My favourite dish at this restaurant was pan-fried hakka noodles. A heart attack special which included vegetable hakka noodles topped with chicken manchurian. I loved this dish a lot, but as I have become more health conscious I have started eating my own, healthier version, stir-fried vegetable-hakka noodles.

Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat noodles / pasta (cooked and drained)
1 cup mixture of chopped vegetables (Capsicum, Carrots, Green Peas, Mushrooms, Scallion, Cabbage)
2 tsp Chili Oil
2 Green Chilis spliced
1 tsp fresh Garlic Paste
1/2 tsp Soy Sauce
Salt to taste

Method
Heat the chili oil in a wok on medium heat
Add chilis and garlic paste and stir
Add vegetables, salt and soy sauce, stir and cover with a lid till vegetables are partially cooked
Add noodles and mix well
Cover with a lid and allow to cook in it's own steam for 3-4 min
Serve hot

Comments

TheCooker said…
Wasn't there a bakery near that car garage? They made delicious nan-katai.
August 21, 2007 at 12:53 AM
J said…
Hi, are you aware that your recipe is reproduced here : http://vrushalis.blogspot.com/2007/08/mutter-kheema.html

I saw one of mine there too and am irritated she didn't bother to ask my permission first.
August 21, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Tony B said…
Pune provides everything under the sun when it comes to food, with dining places of every wide range and flavor available just around the area. Conventional Puneite work out provides itself in exciting little clothing, propagate all over the town. Come and have a comfortable time savouring the scrumptious food that Pune has to provide. restaurants in pune
April 20, 2012 at 3:26 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kayani Bakery and the Mawa Cake.

Image
Whenever we had guests visiting us from out of town they had things they needed to do, places they had to visit and certain things they absolutely had to take back. One of these that came under all three categories was a visit to the Kayani Bakery on East Street in Camp. If you are a visitor to Pune and you return home without a bag containing a Kayani cake, a box of Shrewsbury biscuits and a bag of wine biscuits, it is safe to say you’d be in the doghouse for at least a week. The Kayani bakery has been a Pune landmark since it was established by brothers Hormuz and Khodayar Irani in 1955. The Shrewsbury biscuit, which is Kayani’s flagship product, is quite possibly the most delicious biscuit you will ever eat. Just opening the pink box to reveal the line of biscuits embossed with the KB logo is a near orgasmic experience. But dipping it in tea and eating is like an orgy in your mouth that will definitely take you there. A Kayani product will never fail to put you in a great mood. Aft...
Read more

Sada Dosa

Image
If you are a Puneite and not on a first name basis with the waiters at Vaishali, it is safe to say that you're not a cool as you think you are. Hotel Vaishali is the crowning jewel of Fergusson College Rd (and for many years the Sun around which my life revolved). Sure there are many important landmarks on that road, like Fergie itself, or maybe the Ranade institute, but nothing says FC Road like Vaishali. The restaurant where our fathers, and grandfathers grew old, no doubt leering at young unsuspecting girls just as their sons and grandsons would. Where many a relationship started and ended. Deals worth lacs of Rupees are initiated and finalized. Vaishali is not just a restaurant. For generations, it has been a way of life. Vaishali is nothing without it's permanent fixtures. The people who are always there no matter what time of day or night. If you've been a Vaishali regular in the past 20 years and are not close friends with one Mr.Uday Sanas, you really haven't em...
Read more

Matki chi Usal (Moth Bean Curry)

Image
It’s President’s day today here in the U.S. and I am among the very few losers who has to work on this day. Nothing is more depressing than being the only one going to work while your significant other gives you the “sucks to be you” look while cozily snuggled up in a blanket. It reminds me of my school days when only some of the kids would have the day off on 'Rang Panchami' (A Maharashtrian version of Holi, 2nd day). It was pure torture to hear the kids in the school neighbourhood playing with their colours, splashing each other with coloured water on each other and throwing water balloons, while you sat in the 1:40 p.m. history class pretending to be interested in the renaissance in Europe. Today is a lot like that except that it is 25 years later and the urge to not be here is just as strong. Instead, I’d much rather be at home with Scanlynn and my cats enjoying some simple comfort food like Matki Usal and Chapati instead of what passes for lunch time fare here in midtow...
Read more