Garlic Soba Noodles

At least once a year, the calendar aligns to give us a Friday the 13th. Today is that day. Long considered a day of bad luck and superstitions, Friday the 13th has manifested in pop culture as the spookiest day of the year. It is not yet clear, however, how Friday the 13th became synonymous with bad luck and mishaps.

Thirteen Throughout History

Possible association with bad luck for this day can be traced back to biblical traditions. There were 13 guests at the Last Supper. The next day was Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Because of this, Christians today believe having 13 people at the dinner table is a sign of a bad omen.

In 1907, Thomas William Lawson published a novel called Friday, the Thirteenth, telling the story of a New York City stockbroker who plays on superstitions about the date to create chaos on Wall Street. He apparently, made a killing on the market.

Later in 1980, the horror movie Friday the 13th popularized Jason, a hockey mask-wearing killer who today, continues to be a cultural phenomenon.

Other events, some recent, also occurred on Friday the 13th:

• German bombing of Buckingham Palace, September 13, 1940
• A cyclone killed an estimated 300,000 people in Bangladesh, November 13, 1970
• Death of rapper Tupac Shakur, September 13, 1996
• Crash of Costa Concordia Cruise ship off the coast of Italy killing 30 people, January 13, 2012
• The US Stock exchanged suffered one of the most major crashes, naming it “Black Friday,” October 13, 1989
• Former President Trump declared a national emergency in response to COVID, March 13, 2020

Looking into the future, on Friday April 13th, 2029, a large asteroid will fly close enough to the Earth to be visible without a telescope in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Lucky Noodles

You’re probably wondering what the heck does Friday the 13th have anything to do with this blog and food. If you’re still reading, I commend you, lol. Since today is riddled with avoiding black cats and walking under ladders, I thought I’d share a lucky recipe to combat the misfortunes.

Long been considered a sign of good luck in Asian cultures, noodles, particularly soba noodles, signify longevity and health. It is believed that if you can eat one long noodle without chewing or breaking it, you will live a long life.

The Recipe

This Soba Noodle recipe comes together quickly, making it an easy weeknight meal. If you do not have soba noodles, you can substitute for spaghetti, but I highly recommend getting soba noodles just in case that black cat crosses your path.

In this recipe, I used shrimp because it is a symbol of good fortune, symbolizing prosperity in Asian culture. It’s typically eaten during the Lunar New Year to ensure that good fortune remains with you all year long.

For my vegetable, I chose broccoli as it is considered a symbol of fertility and abundance in some cultures. Additionally, broccoli is believed to have protective qualities and is used in spiritual practices to ward off negative energy and evil spirits. You can also substitute baby bok choy, which is also a symbol of good luck.

The sauce is made with the typical array of Asian ingredients—soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and chili sauce. I wanted this recipe to also be garlicky because obviously, garlic keeps vampires away. The addition of the Better Than Bouillon Garlic base along with fresh garlic will surely accomplish this!

Try this recipe and let me know if you ward off any evil spirits!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

For the shrimp marinade

• 1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• a pinch of white pepper

The Sauce

• 2 tablespoon lite soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon Roasted Garlic Base
• 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoon palm sugar or honey
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoon corn starch

The Stir Fry

• 6 oz soba noodle or 2 bundles
• 1-2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 large shallot, sliced
• 2 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 oz broccolini, cut into bite size

Step 1:

Mix the marinade ingredients together. Add prepared shrimp. Let marinade while you make the sauce. Cook the soba noodles per package direction.

Step 2:

Whisk the soy sauce, oyster sauce, Better Than Bouillon, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, palm sugar or honey, chili garlic sauce, and corn starch until combined.

Step 3:

Heat a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add vegetable oil, then add your shrimp. Lower temperature to medium, cooking for 2-3 minutes. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.

Step 4

Turn your heat to high heat. Add vegetable oil. Add shallots, ginger, and garlic and stir fry for 30 seconds. Add the broccolini and stir fry for 1-2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add your cooked noodles. Add your sauce and stir fry to combine for 1-2 minutes. Add in your shrimp. Remove from heat and serve immediately. Top with green scallions and sesame seed.

✅ Quick Tips: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.