What’s your favorite type of cuisine? My all-time favorite is Chinese food (though admittedly, it is the American version of Chinese food). But I have a growing love for all types of Asian cuisine, as well. Thai food, for example, has some of the brightest and most exciting flavors out there (fresh basil, lemongrass, yum!). And I started craving sushi when I was pregnant with Darah and haven’t stopped.
In all the examples listed above, I have found that making my own version of these types of foods usually doesn’t end very well. Because I lack the right ingredients and the right cooking techniques, I’m rarely satisfied with the end result. I had pretty much reached the conclusion that if I wanted Asian food, I should just pay the price for someone else to prepare it for me.
Annie Chun’s is an Asian foods brand found in most supermarkets, and they want to change the perception that preparing Asian food at home is difficult by providing some of the tools that kitchens like mine really need. Annie Chun’s offers a variety of really delicious cooking sauces, noodles, soups and a whole slew of convenience foods for when you are REALLY stretched for time and can only manage to get something in the microwave (been there!).
We have been sampling a few different products over the last month, and I have to say, I have been really impressed. The Annie Chun’s line has 6 different types of noodle bowls. I tried a few of them, and the one that I’m really eager to stock up on is the Peanut Sesame Noodle Bowl. In just a few minutes I can have a VERY flavorful dish ready to serve, and the portion is generous. I have actually used this as a quick side dish for Tim and I to share alongside a piece of chicken. But it is also terrific on its own.
The other products I wanted to highlight for you are the Kung Pao Sauce and the Soba Noodles (also known as buckwheat noodles). I actually came up with a recipe using both ingredients and simply by cleaning out my fridge and freezer! You can make lots of substitutions as you see fit; simply see this recipe as an inspiration!
Kung Pao Crab with Soba Noodles
Ingredients:
- 16 oz crab (I used frozen)
- 8 oz frozen peas
- 1/2 – 1 red or orange bell pepper, cut into short strips
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1/4 cup Annie Chun’s Kung Pao Sauce
- greens of choice, such as bok choy or kale
- Annie Chun’s Soba Noodles
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp vegetable stock (can substitute chicken stock or water).
Ingredients for noodle sauce:
- 1/4 cup Annie Chun’s Kung Pao Sauce
- 1/2 tsp ginger paste (can substitute with 1/4 tsp ground ginger)
- 1 heaping tbsp peanut butter or almond butter
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp soy sauce
At first glance, this recipe may seem to have a lot of ingredients and be a bit cumbersome. But it really is the result of me trying to use up what I had on hand in the fridge and freezer and grabbed what I knew I could throw together. You can substitute the crab for another meat, or swap out some of the veggies with whatever you have on hand or like.
I began by cutting the crab into bite-sized chunks. I used my Kitchenaid Professional Shears to make this work a bit faster! I use these for SO much in my kitchen. If you don’t own a pair of kitchen shears, let me STRONGLY recommend that you put them on your wish list!
Then I cut up bell peppers and your onions. I happened to have small bell peppers on hand. Next, add peas. I only had about 2 oz of peas, which is why they don’t look very prevalent in the dish. I would have used more if I had them on hand! I then mixed everything together.
The dish looked decidedly lacking in the green department, but then I remembered that I had some kale. I washed, dryed and then chopped up the leaves (remove the stems from the kale, as they are a bit tough to eat). Then I added the Kung Pao sauce. It was ready to go!
Next, I heated up the skillet on med-high with 1 tbsp oil (I used olive) and 2 tbsp vegetable stock. I added the stock because I knew the kale was going to need a bit of moisture to help it wilt. As I waited for the skilled to warm, I also got a pot of hot water boiling for the noodles. Quick tip: put a lid on your pots and pans while they are heating to get them hot faster!
Once the skillet was ready to go, I added my crab mixture, gave it a good stir, and then put the lid on and set the timer for 5 minutes. I opened the lid twice during the cooking process to stir everything around. If you think your mixture is starting to stick too much, just add another tablespoon of stock.
When the water for the noodles was boiling, I added the entire box of them, gave them a stir, and let them cook for 5 minutes, also. Drain and rinse under cold water once the noodles are done.
While the crab mixture and noodles were cooking, I made noodle sauce by combining all the noodle sauce ingredients listed above together in a bowl. I poured the sauce over the cooked, drained and rinsed noodles and coatedthe noodles evenly with the sauce.
Then I placed the noodles in a serving bowl, and topped with the crab mixture. What a healthy, colorful and packed-with-flavor meal!
Want to hear my opinion on the dish after trying it? I thought the noodle sauce was AMAZING and the soba noodles were surprisingly yummy. Will definitely be buying them again. In fact, I’ll make some version of this recipe again sometime this summer. I think I’d like to try the Kung Pao sauce with some chicken next time. The crab tasted good (no regrets!) but I bet the chicken will taste even better.
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I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Carol Caux says
I would love to have your recipe for Crab Kung Poa. Could you email it to me. I sure would appreciate getting it. It is quite different than mine. It sure looks good. Thank You.
Marcy Strahan says
I would love to try the teriyaki sauce in my own wonderous recipes!
Lily Kwan says
I would like to try the Chicken & Garlic – Mini Wontons the most.
Christian Alejandro says
I’d say the Organic Shiitake & Vegetable Potstickers
Rose Santuci-Sofranko says
The Frozen Potstickers!
Allison says
Organic peanut sesame yumm!
Cuddlesome Bear says
I love kung pao sauce. I have never tried Annie’s before but it looks delish!
shanta spradlin says
Sprouted Brown Sticky Rice
liz l says
Asian Noodle Bowls
Susan Climan says
I’d love to try the Spring Vegetable Ramen.
susan smoaks says
i would like to try the Organic Peanut Sesame Asian Meal Starter
Candie L says
I would like the Organic Peanut Sesame Asian Meal Starter . Thank you
Sarah Hall says
I want to try the Chicken & Garlic Wontons.
amy deeter says
the Garlic Scallion Noodle Bowl
Ed Nemmers says
The Potstickers would be my item of choice!
Jennifer Reed says
I would be most interested in trying the Organic Shiitake & Vegetable Potstickers from Annie Chuns.
Shannon says
peanut sesame noodle bowl
tara pittman says
rice express
tina reynolds says
I really like Chicken & Cilantro – Mini Wontons
Buddy Garrett says
I want to try the Soup Bowl, Kimchi.
David Nelson says
I love Thai food!
DeeAnn S says
I’d love to try their line of Seaweed Snacks! Thanks.
mary gardner says
Their Frozen Potstickers & Mini-Wontons
kathy pease says
id love to try the Garlic Scallion Noodle Bowl
Janine says
I’d like to try the Ramen House line.
Erica C. says
I’d like to try the Kung Pao Sauce.
joseph gersch jr says
Sushi Wraps – Sprouted Brown Rice
Michelle C says
Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles
Lauren Harmon says
The sushi wraps would be perfect for me! I love sushi and would love to have an EASY way to make it at home!
Rose Reeder says
+Sticky Rice
Brittney House says
Asian Noodle Bowls
Sarah says
I want to try the sesame seaweed snacks.
Karrie Millheim says
Chicken & Wonton Soup..I love annie chuns food
Gianna says
White Sticky Rice.
Melanie Tucker says
Would love to try the noodle bowls! yum
Laurie Emerson says
I most want to try the Garlic Scallion Noodle Bowl.
James Coyne says
The Pad Thai Asian Meal Starter
Lori Taube says
The “Teriyaki Asian Meal Starter” sounds yummy! Great for a busy weekday dinner!
Jenny says
I would love to try the Chicken & Wonton Soup
Brenda Elsner says
I would like to try the spicy chicken ramen
mal kaplan says
chinese chicken soup bowl
Melanie Montgomery says
Chicken & Wonton Soup
Deb S says
I want to try the Asian Noodle bowls
Jaque R. says
I would like to try the Sushi Wraps – Sticky White Rice. 🙂 Thank you.
David says
I would like to try their Korean BBq sauce.
Michelle Tucker says
We’d like to try the Annie Chuns Ramen House, Spicy Chicken Ramen.
Jeanne says
black pearl rice
sara wood says
black pearl sticky rice
dani marie says
pad thai noodle bowl.
Samii Meyer says
I would love to try the Miso Soup
Erin Collins says
Chinese Chicken Soup Bowl
Nicole C. says
I would love to try the Chinese Chicken Soup Bowl.
giveaway gal says
I want to try a soup bowl!
Teressa K says
I would like to try the Kung Pao sauce
Misses Giveaways says
organic chow mein freshpak
shantelle stately says
We love asian noodles, would love to try this line.
Breanne says
Spicy Chicken Ramen
Betty says
I’d like to try the Pad Thai Noodle bowl
amy says
the noodle bowls look yummy
Karen says
I’d like the Shiitake Soy Ginger Sauce.
Lisa says
The Asian Noodle Bowls
Kelly McGrew says
i’ve always wanted to try their soup bowls. i’d also like to try their pad thai sauce after visiting the web site! thanks!
Sheila K. says
I’d love to try the Chicken & Garlic – Mini Wontons!
Stephanie Grant says
I would really like to try the Asian Noodle Bowls
amber gregory says
yum yum
charj says
I’ve been wanting to try the Maifun Brown Rice Noodles.
bryan clark says
chicken and garlic wonton soup
Jesselyn A/Jesstinger says
I Love Annie Chun – and we eat/use her products A LOT. We’ve tried many of her items and love all of the Noodle Soups – though I haven’t tried the Ramen Noodle Soups yet – given our experience so far – I’m confident they will be exception and greatly surpass the many Ramen Noodle products on the market!
I’m also eager to to try the new Kung Pao products and the Chicken & Garlic Mini-Wontons! Thanks!
Lynne T. says
I am most interested in the Frozen Potstickers and Mini-Wontons.
K.Pugh says
I’d like to try the Hot & Sour Soup Bowl.
Thanks for the chance.
Renee G says
I’d love to try their Hot & Sour soup bowls.
sheila k says
sushi wraps
sandy weinstein says
i want to try the mini wontons and seaweed snacks
polly says
I would like to try their chicken and garlic wonton soup
Les Johnson says
I would like to try their Asian noodles.
Korey Watkins says
I want to try the Kung Pao sauce. My best friend likes to make Kung Pao chicken for me from time to time, so this would be great to try next time he makes it!
Jackie says
I’d love to try the Asian Noodle Bowls
Thank you!
Julie Murphy says
korean barbeque sauce
Jacob LaFountaine says
I’d go with Organic Chow Mein FreshPak Noodles
erum shaukat says
sushi wraps!
Linda Bradshaw says
I would like to try the Asian noodles. I can use them in different recipes.
Ariel says
I’d love to try her sauce line!
Tabathia B says
Sushi Wraps – Sticky White Rice
Christine says
the Vietnamese Pho soup bowl
latanya says
Black Pearl Sticky Rice
lisa says
Sushi Wraps
Debbie Denny says
The Mini Wontons look great!
Amanda Gilds says
We have been using Annie Chun foods for a few years now. Our favorite are the soup bowls!
Dianna Thomas says
Wow what a great selection– I love the chicken mini wontons
Michelle Wood says
I’d like to try the Gochujang Sauce.
renee says
I’m not a big Chinese food fan but I bet my husband would love the Korean Sweet Chili Noodle Bowl .
Gloria says
Annie Chun products are the best!
jessica edwards says
potstickers
amber carroll says
Wasabi Seaweed Snacks
Karen says
Asian noodles if I can find them.
Dianne Z says
I would like to try any of the Annie Chun food products
Paol Trenny says
Gochujang Sauce
Jen S says
I spotted the brand shopping this week, but waiting for a sale to give it a try. Kung Pao Sauce is the first I’ll go for.
Amanda H says
My husband would love the sushie wraps
Stephanie Larison says
Sushi Wraps – Sprouted Brown Rice
sue ellen says
Iwould like to try teriyali sauce, chicken and Garlic mini wontons. and so much more.
dorothy turner says
I would like to try the Vietnamese Pho soup bowl!
Kyl Neusch says
try the Frozen Potstickers
Danai says
Chicken and garlic mini wontons
Emily R. says
I would like to try the Peanut Sesame Noodle Bowl.
Jennifer Pittman says
the soba noodles, or the meal starters
christine marie says
I would love to try noodle bowls. sounds great.
Jen L says
I would love to try the wontons!
Jen L says
I would like to try the Frozen Potstickers & Mini-Wontons!
Lori Walker says
Chinese Chicken Soup Bowl
Brandi Dawn says
I would like to try any or all of the asian meal starters!
beth says
I’d like to try the asain meal starters
Nancy says
I’d like to try the Sesame Seaweed Snacks.
Cynthia C says
I want to try the Kung Pao Sauce
debbie says
I would like to try the Gochujang Sauce.
Robin O says
I would especially like to try the Seaweed Snacks!
Sarah Ann Walker says
I want to try the Miso Soup Bowl most. It looks and sounds delicious.
Ttrockwood says
The udon fresh pack noodles and thai peanut sauce sound awesome!!
chadro says
Kung Pao Noodle Bowl
ELIZABETH C. says
The teriyaki sauce sounds great. Would love to try!
Donna L says
I would like the Organic Chow Mein FreshPak Noodles.
Carolyn D. says
Shiitake Soy Ginger Sauce sounds fun to experiment with!
Thank you,
sharlene caisse says
potstickers
danielle lima says
I would love to try the noodle bowls
alyce poalillo says
The Pad Thai Noodle Bowl is my favorite
nicole says
I would like to try the teriyaki sauce!
Katie K says
Like to try the Brown Sugar & Sea Salt Seaweed Snacks
Carol says
I’d like to try the Maifun Rice Noodles.
Saver Sara says
We’d love to try the Frozen Potstickers & Mini-Wontons
Serena Powell says
I’d like to try the Maifun Rice Noodles
Carolyn S says
Love to try the Thai Peanut Sauce
Candace M says
Hot and sour soup bowl
tabatha says
i love annie chun!