Yaupo inspired Zucchini Salad

      Welcome! I don't know what number blog this is that I'm starting but it's not my first or even my second. Some fizzled. I loved them all; with some, it was time to move on and grow. Some are still with us, and I love their focus. However, I've made some changes to my lifestyle and reducing carbs has to be part of that. 

     I want to say up front that I'm not a doctor, or any kind of expert. And I don't follow any specific carb meal plan and I don't avoid them completely. I just aim to swap a few things here and there to improve how I feel daily, and my overall well-being. So the goal is creating recipes here and there that I love, and can keep a record of, and can share, that are tasty and filling. I don't want to feel like I'm missing out, and I do really love food, and hopefully I can share a few things along the way. 

     Locally there are a couple restaurants that have Biang-Biang noodles, and Yaupo Noodles, which taste quite similar to me. I'm not quite sure the technical difference, but I reeaaallllly wanted some the other day and decided to experiment. The oil is what makes it, the noodles are just a bonus. So once I figured out the seasonings, all I had to do was toss with the zucchini and I was ready to go. was it the same? No. But It was pretty delicious and I was happy with it, the flavors were well balanced, and it was easy to make, and it filled the itch. That's when I knew the recipe worked. 

Yaupo Inspired Zucchini Salad

1 tbsp. Oil

1 tsp. garlic paste

1/2 tsp. granulated garlic

1 Tbsp. Chinese black vinegar

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

1/4 tsp. gochugaru

1 green onion, sliced

1 medium zucchini, shaved with a peeler

In a small, nonstick, saucepan heat the oil with the garlic paste and the granulated garlic. Cook until sizzling. Add the vinegar and cook until bubbling and reduced. then add the soy sauce and the gochugaru and cook again until bubbling. 

Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. You don't want to cool the zucchini. Once it's cool, toss with the zucchini. For me, I topped with some steak for protein but it works with anything really. Grilled pork and chicken all work.