How to cook flavorful Japanese Champon noodles just like at the restaurant

What is Champon Noodles?

• Champon noodles are a signature dish of Japan, inspired by Chinese cuisine, and are often served with fried pork, seafood, and various vegetables.
• Depending on the season and time, the ingredients in Champon noodles can vary. Therefore, the flavor and style of the dish may depend on the location and time of year.

How to choose fresh ingredients

How to choose fresh pork

• You should select fresh pork pieces that have a bright color; the desirable meat color is light pink or light red, and the fat should be a translucent white with a slight ivory hue.
• When smelling the meat, if you detect a distinctive pleasant aroma, you should buy it; this smell should not be unpleasant or have a strong fishy odor. Pressing the meat with your hand should yield a good bounce-back.
• You should avoid buying pieces of meat that are slimy and have an unpleasant odor, as they may be old and spoiled.

How to choose fresh shrimp

• When selecting shrimp, you should choose those with a transparent shell; avoid shrimp with dark spots or inconsistent coloring.
• If you see that the shrimp’s tail curls together, you should buy it as it indicates freshness. If the shrimp’s tail is spread out, it may have been chemically treated or injected with water to make it plump.
• When you pick up the shrimp and notice it is slimy or its body is bent into a circular shape instead of being straight, you should not buy it.

How to choose fresh squid

• Prioritize selecting squid with a shiny color; the brown part should be dark brown, while the body of the squid should be opaque white like milk, as this indicates freshness.
• When you touch the squid’s body, you should feel that the flesh is firm and has a high elasticity. When you press your hand on the squid’s body, it should quickly return to its original state without leaving a dent.
• Additionally, if the head and tentacles of the squid stick tightly together and are firm, you should choose it. Conversely, do not buy squid that is soft, has water leaking, and is easily separable, as this indicates it is not fresh.

How to choose fresh carrots

• When choosing carrots, you should prioritize those that are long and slender, with smooth and bright skin.
• Next, you should select those with fresh green tops and a bit of soil still clinging to the body. Press lightly with your hand to feel the firmness of the root.
• You should avoid choosing those with rough skin, wilted or soft, mushy roots, as these are signs that the carrots have been stored for a long time, so their taste will be bland and not delicious.

How to choose fresh and delicious cabbage

• It is advisable to buy cabbages that have a bright shiny color and a round, even shape. You should not buy those that are flat or oval-shaped as these are spongy cabbages and not firm.
• Choose cabbages that feel a bit heavy and solid when you pick them up.
• Avoid purchasing cabbages that have black-brown spots on the body or are bruised, as these are cabbages that have been stored for a long time and are no longer crisp and fresh.

How to choose fresh and delicious onions

• When choosing onions, you should prioritize those of moderate size and round shape because round onions are usually sweeter and crisper than long onions.
• Next, select those with long roots, smooth skin tightly hugging the onion inside, as these are fresh onions with a sweet taste and not hollow or spongy.
• If the onion has short roots or is root-cut, and the skin is loose rather than hugging the bulb, you should not buy it because this could be an onion that has been stored for too long, and it will not taste good when cooked.