Where can I buy Shirataki Tofu Noodles in Knoxville and why should I?

by Pat

I needed to answer this question to make a great low calorie, low carb dish a friend passed on to me. The good news was that it didn't take long to find a great Knoxville business to help me out, so I'm answering my own question!

Here's the recipe and the reasoning behind it, and even a holiday-spirited way to help those in need while you pick up your noodles.

Low, low, low carb-low cal Lo Mein!

Fight holiday flab by taking advantage of healthy cooking methods and ingredients and make over restaurant favorite lo mein into a giant, healthy serving that has only13 carbs and 6 grams of fiber.

For those who do the “effective carbs” calculation, that means only 7 effective carbs per serving. This method has only a tiny fraction of the fat and about half the sodium of the restaurant version and is only 3 Weight Watchers points per serving.(Restaurant lo mein averages at least 20 points!)

The secret to this recipe is an amazing noodle made from tofu and an unusual Japanese white yam. House Foods maked Shirataki Tofu noodles in round and flat styles with an incredibly low 20 calories per portion and low fat and carbohydrates.

They will work in any fettucine or pasta dish and are easy to work with. They come refrigerated and need only a cold water rinse in a colander and a couple of minutes of boiling. And the great news is that Earth Fare right here in Knoxville carries these great tasting noodles!

For four large servings of Low Lo Mein you will need:

Noodles:
3 bags of Shirataki Tofu Noodles, rinsed, boiled two minutes, and drained.
Sauce:
¼ low sodium or “light” soy sauce
2 teaspoons chicken broth powder, low sodium if possible in ½ boiling water OR ½ cup good clear chicken stock.
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
2 packets Splenda or other sweetener
Method: Blend sauce ingredients and let stand while cooking the veggie mixture. Add the garlic and ginger too if you use them.

Stir Fry:
1 large bag stir fry style Asian vegetables (about 10-16 ounces)
1 cup bean sprouts
¼ cup shredded or julienne carrots
½ cup julienne zucchini
½ cup sliced mushrooms (you can add more veggies of your choice)
two skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
(or the protein of your choice from firm tofu cubes to shrimp, pork, beef,
leftover turkey, you name it. You need about 8 ounces.)
½ cup sliced scalliions plus more for garnish

Optional but recommended: Sliced fresh ginger, one crushed garlic clove, I teaspoon peanut or other healthy oil.

Prepare the noodles and allow to drain in a colander. Heat the oil in a wok or large saute pan and add the garlic and ginger, cook one minute until very fragrant. Remove ginger and garlic and add to the chicken broth to steep.
Add chicken strips to the pan and add all the vegetables except the scallions. Cook about 7-9 minutes stirring often until the meat is cooked and the vegetables are all hot. (If using leftover meat, add it after five minutes to heat through.)

Add the scallions and the sauce after removing garlic and ginger and stir until thickened and veggies are cooked to your taste, then stir in the noodles . Garnish with more scallions and serve. Four servings, each about 170 calories. (Restaurant versions are around 600 calories.)

Naturally, you can change the veggies and proteins in this dish anyway you like, add hot peppers or jalapenos or whatever you wish. Just use the tofu noodles, low or no oil, and reduced salt soy sauce. Vegetarian meat substitutes like Quorn work great, too.

Locally, you can buy those Shitataki Tofu noodles at Earth Fare according to their friendly associate Kevin in the grocery section. Contact information below will help you connect with Earth Fare, and House Foods has great recipes of their own on their website.

Earth Fare
8A-10P Mon-Sat, 9A-9P Sun
knoxville400@earthfare.com
(865) 777-3837
Shops at Turkey Creek
10903 Parkside Drive
Knoxville,TN 37934

Be an angel and help KARM as you shop at Earth Fare as well: KARM: Knoxville Area Rescue Mission
November 2007 "Our purpose is to seek to rescue the poor and needy of the Knoxville area by providing recovery services. "Feed the need" is offered at Earth Fare for the month of November. By adding $1.53 or more to your purchase you can provide a nourishing holiday meal and care for a struggling soul."
For more information, visit karm.org

And visit House Foods for Shirataki Tofu Pasta