Name: Chilled Udon with Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken and Spinach
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Makes 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 to 3 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger; 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast halves; 1/3 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine); 1 teaspoon Asian chile paste with garlic; 2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil; 12 oz dried or 16 oz fresh udon noodles; 6 cups baby spinach, coarse stems discarded; Garnish: julienne scallions and toasted sesame seeds

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Chilled Udon with Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken and SpinachRomulo Yanes

Here, you get an entire meal with a single, 45-minute recipe. Udon, Japanese wheat noodles with a chewy, stretchy texture, are available dried in the Asian food section of most supermarkets (along with mirin and chile paste with garlic) or fresh in the produce section. Sliced pineapple or mango sorbet would be an ideal dessert.

Cooks' note:

Chicken can be grilled on an outdoor grill — lightly oil rack and set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals.

Recipe notes

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