Recipes: Chinese Garlic Steak and Asian Peanut Noodles

This quick marinated steak and Asian Peanut Noodle can be prepared in very little time

Garlic produces magic in many cuisines. For this quick Chinese Garlic Steak, soy sauce and peanuts with the garlic are added.

Garlic produces magic in many cuisines. For this quick Chinese Garlic Steak, I added soy sauce and peanuts with the garlic.

Shortcut Tip: To make this meal even faster, buy beef cut for stir-frying at the market.

Asian Peanut Noodles is a cold side dish. I use bottled peanut sauce that can be found in the ethnic section of the supermarket. Look for fresh or steamed Chinese noodles in the produce section.

This meal contains 553 calories with 17 percent of calories from fat.

Helpful Hints:

— Dried Chinese noodles or any thin dried pasta can be substituted for the fresh noodles.

— Minced garlic can be found in jars in the produce section of the market.

— Look for a thick peanut sauce. It works best for this recipe. Or, mix about 2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 tablespoon rice vinegar to make your own peanut sauce. Thin it with 1 tablespoon water.

Wine suggestions: A big, garlicky steak cries out for a wine that is full-flavored (to balance the potent garlic) and tannic (to cut through the fatty feel of the steak.) A cabernet sauvignon from California or Australia, or a Rhone wine from France, would go well. I wouldn't try a softer wine like a merlot or pinot noir, or especially a Beaujolais: Chinese Garlic Steak

Makes 2 servings

3/4 pound quick cooking steak (skirt or strip)

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

3 teaspoons minced garlic

Vegetable oil spray

1. Remove visible fat from steak and cut into 1-inch strips. Mix soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic together in a self-seal plastic bag. Add steak and set aside while making the noodles.

2. Heat a wok or skillet over high heat. Spray with vegetable oil spray.

3. Remove steak from marinade, discard marinade. Stir-fry steak 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to a plate. Per serving: 265 calories (21 percent from fat), 6.1 g fat (2.0 g saturated, 2.7 g monounsaturated), 96 mg cholesterol, 41.3 g protein, 12.4 g carbohydrates, 0.5 g fiber, 1003 mg sodium.

Asian Peanut Noodles

Makes 2 servings

1/4 pound fresh or steamed Chinese noodles (about 2 ¼ cups)

1/4 pound fresh snow peas, trimmed (about 1 ½ cups)

3 tablespoons peanut sauce

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil. Add the noodles and snow peas. Bring back to a boil and cook 1 minute. Drain. Place in a bowl and add the peanut sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well. Serve with the steak.

Per serving: 288 calories (14 percent from fat), 4.5 g fat (1.0 g saturated, 0.7 g monounsaturated), 48 mg cholesterol, 11.9 g protein, 49.9 g carbohydrates, 4.2 g fiber, 481 mg sodium.

Linda Gassenheimer is the author of 14 cookbooks including her newest, "Mix 'n Match Meals in Minutes for People with Diabetes," and "Prevention's Fit and Fast Meals in Minutes."