First there was regular pasta. Then came spaghetti squash . That was replaced by Zucchini Spirals. And now…
Mushroom Pasta???? No, not really. But the stringy-ness (and the slurpability!) of these guys reminds me of spaghetti.
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(Side Note, because I know someone will ask: I am NOT replacing regular pasta with mushrooms. There is room in my heart—and my belly—for both these yummy foods, thank you very much.)
Asian Market, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. On my most-recent trip, I got a big ole package of Enoki mushrooms for only $1.50! I adore Enoki shrooms, but they’re so hard to find, and then when you do find ‘em, they can be pretty pricey. Thank goodness for the Asian market.
Enoki mushrooms, meet Stir fry Salad.
In today’s stir fry salad: cauliflower, snow peas, shiitake shrooms, red cabbage, broccoli, garlic, tamari, and those silly enokis
Slurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp 
Above, mixed with spinach to become a true SF Salad.
Have you ever been to an ethnic market?
I could spend all day in an Asian market: the low prices, the exotic foods, the memory-inducing items (I grew up in Japan and China)… it all makes for quite the fun experience. I’ve just discovered that Indian markets are pretty cool too. If you’ve been to one, what’s your favorite ethnic-market purchase? Here’s a hint about mine: It starts with a K .
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{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been meaning to find an Asian market in my new city. Those noodles look so yummy!!
Enoki mushrooms are so fun! Your Enoki stir fry salad looks delicious! And, it must have been so interesting to live in another part of the world growing up!
We have a giant Asian market in the big city nearest me. It’s HUGE. Honestly, I find the store a little intimidating, crowded, and the big tanks of live fish-soon-to-be-someone’s-dinner make me a little queasy. Thus, I don’t go there often.
However, when I do stop by, I like to pick up some exotic produce (blood oranges!) and browse the aisles. I am always amazed at how cheap everything is. I think I’ll have to go to there next month and get some red bean paste dessert buns, vegan oyster sauce, and tinned jackfruit.
What are some of your other favourite things at the Asian market?
HEHE KATIE, you and I are cut from similar molds. Similar Asian molds that love ethnic food. You KNOW i am always hitting up the asian supermarket.
Girl I lived not far from Chinatown in Chicago and have been no stranger to urban dwelling life both downtown Chicago and downtown San Diego for years. And have always loved the outdoor farmers markets and random ethnic markets. And you know you’ve found some good stuff when no one speaks english and you just wing it!
That said I’ve never tried kobocha. I know it’s a popular item among the bloggers…but I did make some roasted veggies last nite and thought of you
They havent hit the bloggie yet though.
i recently moved to an area with a ton of ethnic (esp. asian) markets and sadly, i’ve only been to one. it was pretty amazing and huge though! they had like 20 or 30 different kinds of dried dates!!! it was so amazing. i only bought one thing: blueberry-filled mochi…it was pretty yummy, but extremely sugary
Looks tasty! I’ve never had those mushrooms before, but I’ll check my ethnic grocery store for them. I’m lucky to have a few big ones here in St. Louis. Last time I went, I got some Indonesian tempeh!
I tried kobocha recently and thought it was pretty good, but butternut is still my #1
I love my Asian market. It’s called the Viet Hoa and it’s about two blocks from my house. I stock up on cheap vegan Ramen, Pearl River soy sauce (the best brand ever!), and cheap produce (this morning, I got three avocados for $1.99….yet I paid $1.99 for one avocado at Kroger a couple days ago!).
Indian markets are awesome too. That’s where I buy my beloved black salt.
What a colorful plate of food! I would love to feast on that for dinner right now.
Ok, so I have a question- Did you cook the enoki mushrooms? Because they look uncooked. And if you did, how long do you cook them for? Thanks! Boy does that SF Salad look yummy!
I almost positive that your favorite ethnic market purchase is KABOCHA squash. I actually just bought a Kabocha at the farmer’s market and thought of you
. I know that some people think that they’re ugly, but to me they are just so cute and pretty!
I was shocked to find CHIA seeds at my Mexican market the other day. Who knew?
What a brilliant idea!
Oh my goodness.. I heart mushrooms and those look delicious in every way!) As for your fav “K” purchase.. Im thinking a delightful little squash by the name of Kabocha. I actually cant wait til Saturday so I can pick one up at the farmers market. YUM
Great stir fry salad recipe! Have you ever tried the stir-fry over the greens while it is still warm?
I have an awesome stir fry salad recipe that calls for the warm mushroom mixture to be added on top of the greens. It also has a warm dressing. But now that I think about it, my recipe would probably taste just as good cold… I’m going to try it!
Thanks for sharing!
- Brittany
Yeah, we are lucky enough to have many ethnic (Korean) markets close to our house, so we go at least once a week
I actually don’t eat mushrooms (usually), but I do love enoki for their spaghetti-like quality!
I like getting cheaper kabocha (hehe) and purple sweet potatoes! Oh, and seaweed, can’t forget that!
I love Asian markets!! My favorite things to buy are matcha green tea, thai young coconuts, jaggery (at the indian store), mangoes and miso paste. I always thought I was the only young female who actually enjoyed browsing and shopping in these places. Glad to hear there are more of us!
Oh and arame, nori, kombu and koji rice!
I go to Ethnic and specialty markets a lot. You can find exotic produce without paying an arm and a leg, and the items are authentic. I also love exploring and seeing what sounds interesting and that = NEW THINGS TO TRY. Tip: Indian markets have bags of spices for incredible prices!!!
The purple color in the dish is so pretty.
Cool “pasta”. Almost enough to make me forget it’s mushrooms – I hate mushrooms.
Sadly, I have never been to an ethnic market. Saddd!
Mmm, love mushrooms!
<3 jess
I love going to international markets. Now when I shop if it’s not at the commissary it really is an international market to me, but really it’s just local. My sister and I could spend all day looking at ethnic foods.
Spaghetti squash is one of my faves to cook. It tastes good and you can kinda play with your food!
We have a whole Asian mall kind of where I live. It’s so much fun..when I was younger I used to only be able to buy clothes there b/c they had super small sizes. I couldn’t fit into regular clothes lol so I always ended up having the wackiest outfits in like grade 8 while all my friends had stuff from the gap, old navy, abercrombie etc.
Food-wise though, I can’t get enough of lychee nuts or berries or whatever they’re called.
Faaaaabulous stir-fry! I think I might just make one for dinner now!
I had not been to an Asian market until you were talking about Kabocha. There were so many neat things in there and really good prices. My kids even loved looking around and wanted to try different things. I go when I need to replenish the kabocha (have I thanked you for sharing that great discovery?!) and my husband always wants to go too! I’ll have to look for the Enoki mushrooms.
I love going to the Asian Market for kabocha as well! Usually manage to pick up some other random produce finds too. However, I can never stay in there long as it always stinks like fish and it’s FREEZING. I swear they keep the thermostat set on 50 degrees. BRRRRRR.
I love Asian markets, although I never know what most of the stuff there is. One of my friends just brought me home kelp from a Japanese market. Any ideas of what to do with it?
Are you sure you aren’t Ortherexic? Not to be oh so rude, but I have to admit some may worry due to the following factors of your life style:
-Very skinny vegan
-runs 7 miles 5-6 days weekly
-eats veggies obsessively
-never cooks with oil and uses very little fats with the exception of an oz. of nut butter or a tsp of smart balance light
-eats very little sugar or baked goods, only on rare occasions
- uses mostly cocoa powder and calls it “chocolate” even though it’s not real complete chocolate
- eats very high fiber foods constantly, also high in vitamins/minerals
- limits carbs and per meal
- never eats processed junk food, ever (not wild raw cocoa nut nature bars, I mean oreos or saltines or charms blow pops, etc. which are vegan)
Sorry if this offended you too much, some readers may be a bit concerned…
What a fantastic looking salad, Katie! I am a horrible Asian…I’ve never been to an Asian market, haha! I should really explore sometime…though I’m afraid someone will try to talk to me in Korean and figure out I’m a poser.
I made your banana butter today! Goes well with pumpkin pancakes!
http://healthnut-em.blogspot.com/2009/09/as-if-you-need-more-pumpkin.html
Man, I really need to find an Asian market around here. There are none at home in Bama, cuz there isn’t much of an Asian population there. Maybe there’s more demand in NC? Anyway, I went to an Asian market in Chicago with my Korean aunt once, and she TOTALLY hooked me up with some awesome stuff: nori “chips”, green tea, sesame seeds…it was awesome!
Me me! I can spend all day wandering around the asian grocery store. Usually I come away with loads and loads of ingredients I have no idea what to do with (as I showed in one of my recent posts
).
We can get Enoki from the supermarket here, but it’s expensive so I think I’ve only had it once (and it’s been so long that I can’t remember what it was like, just that I tried some!)
When I am near an ethnic market I spend HOURS meandering. I wrote a post a while back about a japanese/korean market extavaganza- I even got some Hello Kitty PJs out of it- SCORE! Yesterday it was the Mexican market. Bliss sheer bliss!
D
oh ethnic markets are so fun!! yes like you said, wicked cheap and such a crazy variety! there is a middleeastern market near me and they have ever spice you could ever imagine! not to mention every nut, dried fruit and middle eastern staple such as beans, olive oils, hummos, falafel tthe list goes on! that would have to be my fav ethnic market!!
anonymous,
Wow, that’s quite a few assumptions, many of which aren’t even true (Never cooks with oil? Limits carbs per meal?). So I’m not going to bother responding further than this. I know I’m healthy and happy, my friends and family know I’m healthy and happy, and that’s all that matters. Sorry if my lifestyle offends you.
you should’ve just deleted the anonymous comment
hi katie!! glad you found healthy tipping point. thanks for coming by! i’ve been reading your blog for a while, but lurker-style.
hehe!
That’s right Katie: Never feel the need to apologize for your healthy lifestyle or skinny frame!
*Rolls eyes at anonymous*
They once had these mushrooms at the vegan restaurant I visit and when we came they were out. I hope I can try them one day.
What? You now have to eat oreos in order to be HEALTHY? LMAO!!! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!
‘shrooooooooms <3 please feed me CCK
I tried a new Asian market today and Kabocha were 69 cents/lb. I’ll be posting my Thai Kabocha Soup recipe soon. Love it!
All those warning signs from anonymous sound healthy to me. Whatevs!
My favourite buys in the Indian market by my mums are hands-down the bulk bags of beans and pulses, the mustard oil (pungent!!) and the halva (biiiiiiiiig sweet tooth!). Oh, and the dirt-cheap mangos. Maaaan, I miss living in Manchester for them if nothing else!
I do love me some stirfried mushrooms, but I’ve yet to try out enoki. I’ve seen them at my local Asian grocery store, so I should pick them up one time. They totally do resemble pasta, don’t they?
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