Katutubo Thursday: C² (Cabbage and Carrots) Noodle Stir-Fry | Amrey’s Kitchen™

Vegan C² (Cabbage and Carrots) Noodle Stir-Fry

With TCM in mind, I decided to change the cooking process of this easy noodle stir-fry. As a certified #noodlic, I can go on for days just consuming any type of noodle stir-fry. The most basic recipe I use consists of aromatics, soy sauce, noodles, freshly cracked black pepper, water, sesame oil, and veggies of choice. They go into a pan in this order: oil, aromatics, hard veggies, water, soy sauce, noodles, leafy veggies, black pepper, and then drizzle some roasted sesame oil.

pan-roasted cabbage and carrots

This time around, I decided to ‘roast’ the veggies separately. Aherm. Yeah, I wanted to spend more time in the kitchen. LOL. 

I kid you not, roasting the vegetables separately made a world of difference—not just in flavour, but in how I felt after eating. There’s something grounding, even meditative, about pan-roasting julienned carrots and cabbage until their edges turn slightly golden and sweet. It’s like they’re singing a little lullaby to your gut.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this method of stir-frying—light roasting with intention—warms the digestive system, awakens Spleen Qi, and brings harmony to your meal. Carrots and cabbage are not just filler veggies. They’re healing ingredients, each with its own role to play.

Carrots are naturally sweet and energetically neutral, nourishing the lungs and spleen. In TCM, they support digestion, boost immunity, and help move Qi gently throughout the body. Julienne them fine enough, and they also bring a playful crunch to your bite (hello, texture therapy!).

Cabbage, meanwhile, is slightly cooling but becomes more balanced when lightly roasted. It clears heat, supports the stomach and intestines, and is known to ease abdominal bloating—especially when we’ve been a little indulgent (guilty!). Plus, cabbage is a humble balancer in many TCM-based dishes—grounding, hydrating, and comforting.

Now, let’s talk aromatics.

Ginger root is a classic TCM powerhouse. It expels cold, warms the body, and invigorates the system—perfect for keeping things flowing, especially if your energy feels a little sluggish. Red onion, with its pungent nature, helps move stagnant Qi and supports circulation. Stir-frying them first in sesame oil deepens their warming quality, enhancing not just the dish, but your whole mood.

And about the sesame oil—ah, my favourite. In TCM, it’s considered nourishing to the Yin and helps lubricate the intestines. The nutty aroma alone can instantly calm frayed nerves. Just be sure to use the roasted kind for drizzling at the end—it brings everything together, like a bear hug.

But wait, there’s more. LOL. Since it’s a Katutubo Thursday, time for our #katutubo101! Let’s keep our word bank up and running, ei?!

Asanorya - carrots

Repolyo - green cabbage

Luya - ginger

Sibuyas na pula - red onion

Mantika na linga - sesame oil

Bihon - starch noodles

Basag na paminta* - cracked black pepper

Toyo - soy sauce

Tubig/danum - water

*There is no direct translation for cracked pepper, and in Filipino cuisine, either ground pepper or whole peppers (seeds) are used (and commonly black). Basag in Filipino means cracked.

So yes, I did spend more time in the kitchen. But isn’t that part of the healing, too? Cooking slowly, being present, noticing how the vegetables soften whilst the edges turn to a crisp, how the oil sizzles, how your breath calms down as you stir. That’s what mindful eating begins with—mindful cooking. #mindfuleating

And when you finally devour those silky starch noodles tangled with crispy-edged cabbage and sweet carrots, seasoned with intention and soul? Lovelies, that’s not just food—it’s nourishment crafted with care, rooted in presence and love.

Share photos of your version of this nourishing C² (Cabbage and Carrots) Noodle Stir-Fry on IG @amreyskitchen (#amreyskitchen #amapolism #TCMcooking #katutubo101 #BaybayinPoAtHindiAlibata). Remember, sharing is loving. Let’s keep spreading LOVE with Amrey’s Kitchen™ mindfully crafted creations and recipes!

Happy mindful cooking, lovelies! #mettalove