Vegetarian Hot Pot

From EatingWell: Winter 2004, The Essential EatingWell Cookbook (2004) — Subscribe Now!

Quick to prepare, this Asian-style noodle soup has all the makings of a one-pot meal. To punch up the heat, add a dab of chile-garlic sauce.

5 main-dish servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

5 1/4 cups vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 1/4-inch-thick slices fresh ginger, peeled
2 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 3/4 cups shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, wiped clean and sliced (4 ounces)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
1 small bok choy, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, stems and greens separated
3 1/2 ounces Chinese wheat noodles, or rice sticks (see Ingredient note)
1 14-ounce package firm tofu, drained, patted dry and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup grated carrots, (2 large)
4-6 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup chopped scallions, for garnish

Preparation

Combine broth, ginger and garlic in a Dutch oven; bring to a simmer. Simmer, partially covered, over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Discard the ginger and garlic.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring often, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add bok choy stems; cook, stirring often, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the mushroom mixture to the broth. Add noodles, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 minutes. Add bok choy greens and tofu; simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in carrots, vinegar to taste, soy sauce and sesame oil. Serve garnished with scallions.

Tips & Notes

Ingredient Note: Chinese wheat noodles and rice sticks (dried rice noodles) are quick-cooking and can be found in the Asian-food section of your supermarket.

Nutrition

Per serving: 230 calories; 7 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 26 g carbohydrates; 11 g protein; 5 g fiber; 707 mg sodium; 344 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: 130% dv vitamin a, 29 mg vitamin c (50% dv), 179 mg calcium (20% dv), 20% dv fiber.

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 1/2 vegetable, 1 lean protein, 1 fat