Korean-style steak cubes make fast, delicious dinner

Juicy steak bites top noodles and spinach for this quick and tasty bowl dinner. Steak plays an important role in Korean cooking. Here steak cubes are coated with a garlicky sauce glaze.

Noodles are another staple. There are many noodle shops throughout the country. This noodle side dish calls for spinach, but any green vegetable — broccoli, green beans or peas — can be used.

Helpful Hints:

• Any type of quick-cooking steak can be used (skirt, flank, strip).

• Steamed or fresh Chinese noodles can be found in the produce department. Dried noodles or angel hair pasta can be used instead.

• Four crushed garlic cloves can be used instead of bottled minced garlic.

• An easy way to turn steak cubes over is with tongs or two spoons.

Korean Steak Bowl

Yield 2 servings. Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

For steak bites:

3/4 pound beef tenderloin

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup white vinegar

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger or 2 teaspoons ground ginger

Dash of freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons sesame oil

Remove visible fat from steak and cut into 1-inch pieces. Place in a plastic bag. Add soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, mustard, ginger and black pepper. Seal the bag and gently shake to combine ingredients. Marinate 5 minutes turning bag over during that time.

Heat oil in a wok or skillet. Remove steak and saute cubes 2 minutes turning them oven once. Pour marinade into skillet and continue to saute 3 minutes. The sauce will reduce and thicken slightly. A meat thermometer should read 130 degrees for medium rare. Place steak and sauce over noodles in the bowls.

Per serving: 310 calories (44% from fat), 15.3 g fat (5.3 g saturated, 6 g monounsaturated), 84 mg cholesterol, 38.8 g protein, 4.7 g carbohydrates, 0.7 g fiber, 1,190 mg sodium.

Green Noodles

Yield 2 servings.

1/4 pound steamed Chinese noodles

1 cup fresh bean sprouts

6 cups washed, ready-to-eat spinach

2 teaspoons sesame oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large saucepan half filled with water to a boil. Add the noodles and boil 2 minutes. Add bean sprouts and spinach and boil 1 minute. Drain and toss with the sesame oil and salt and pepper to taste.