Last Updated on December 7, 2018
5-2 Diet Fast Day Noodle Stir Fry:
Doing the 5-2 Diet or another low calorie plan? Have you come across these really low calorie Shirataki noodles (just 5cals for a 100g portion). If not they are worth trying because they can really help manage hunger – and if you like stir-fries then they make a great way to include noodles in a 5-2 diet recipe. When I first started the 5-2 Diet I discovered Shirataki or Konjac noodles. I bought one pack from the Japan Centre and I haven’t been back again recently to get more. I rather enjoyed them, I remember noticing a slightly fishy smell when I opened them, but I rinsed them well and cooked them into my prawn stirfry. Since then, I’ve heard people complaining that they disintegrate and that they find the fishy smell unbearable. So, I thought I should try again, but this time with something that wasn’t fish based itself. Just to see…
I also wanted to try a different supplier. While the Japan Centre is great if you are in central London, their mail order service for noodles is rather expensive for delivery. Instead, I went to Holland and Barrett, who deliver free if you order over £20 worth of goods. And, no, I didn’t order £20 of noodles, but I did order 6 packets and a further sample pack of Konjac based ‘rice’. The noodles are £1.33 a pack, but are very often out of stock. You could also try Amazon where you can buy a range of reasonable priced noodles like these Shirakiku Shirataki White Noodles 198 g (each pack should serve 2 portions)
So was my second Shirataki noodle meal a success? Well yes with one caveat. I was using up left over roast beef and I do prefer starting with raw beef. So I’ve allowed for that in the recipe, although what I actually cooked this evening used up some left over beef, I’d strongly advise making this dish with a little sirloin or fillet steak.
- 100 g Shirataki Noodles (wet weight)
- 60 g Lean Beef finely sliced along the grain.
- 150 g Pak Choi
- 3 Spring Onions
- 2 teaspoons Mirin
- 2 teaspoons Low salt Soy Sauce
- 1 piece Fresh Ginger Peeled and chopped as finely as possible
- 2 cloves Garlic peeled and chopped finely or crushed
- 1 handful Fresh Coriander chopped finely.
- 1 Red Chilli
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
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Prepare the beef by cutting it into fine slices. Mix together the soy, mirin, finely chopped garlic and ginger, chopped coriander and the finely sliced chilli and stir the meat into the mixture. Allow to marinade for around half an hour as a minimum.
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Prepare the pak choi and spring onions by removing any old leaves, slicing or tearing the pak choi lengthwise and the spring onions into half cm dice.
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Rinse the noodles under a running tap of tepid water for a minute or two, before tipping into a bowl and covering with boiling water. Drain after 3 minutes and put to one side
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Heat the oil in a wok and add the beef with marinade. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes before adding in the vegetables and cooking for a further minute.
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Add the noodles which should still be warm and stir through for a minute before serving
For a healthy portion you will need half a bag of noodles, 60g of beef and about 200g of mixed green vegetables. That with the oil for cooking, mirin, soy and flavourings will give you a calorie total of under 200! Mostly because the noodles are only 5 calories…which means you get a really substantial meal even on a 5:2 diet fast day.
I do recommend following the recipe instructions to prepare the noodles. And don’t be concerned or put off by the fishy smell when you open the packet. I keep in my head the smell of thai fish sauce – it’s a lot nicer than that! And it goes once the noodles are rinsed.
If you are looking to start the 5:2 diet, why not check out my 5:2 diet tips where you will find some helpful hints to get you started.
Quick, easy and healthy. Thanks.
Good fo making in the Swiss diamond the sautee pan
Great recipe – nice to be able to eat healthily without sacrificing taste
I’m not a lover of noodles but this looks lovely x
You might also want to try thinly slicing konyaku blocks (which you can get from the japan centre) and stir-frying them along with the beef. I find they hold up better than noodles do for stir-frying. I tend to add a stock cube towards the end as well just to enhance the meaty flavour, which the konyaku then absorbs.
It really does fill you up though. 🙂
this might be better with a dash of Tabasco 😉
I’ve read about these – quite fascinated by them. So what are they made of to keep them so low calorie??
Hi Fiona, I found your blog whilst searching for information about 5:2 eating plan and I have enjoyed reading your notes. I only started the 5:2 on Monday but feel really enthused by everything people are writing. I have been really interested in your recipes as I am the sort of person who wants the most from my calories!
I have just come home from work and made your celariac and watercress soup in readiness for my fast day lunch tomorrow. It was so quick and easy to do and I know from the tasting that I will enjoy it.
So thank you and keep the recipes coming, when you get time from your many activities!
Thanks;) I have to say it is working for me and I enjoy cooking up various dishes. Good luck! There are some excellent facebook groups if you feel you need some support…https://www.facebook.com/groups/187492001383720 this is my favourite I think;)
I really love Shirataki noodles. I eat very healthy except for desserts, so I never eat regular pasta. Having something that is quite close to the real thing with virtually no calories is wonderful. I can barely tell the difference any more.
I’m going to have to try a veggie version of this, looks delish!
This sounds delicious and I love the idea of buying noodles online. I will definitely try Holland and Barratt as I always end up spending loads when I go in there. Somehow I never think to buy food online, apart from Supermarket deliveries.
they come in little packs of liquid! very strange, but it seems to work fine!
looks SO yummy!