Instructions: 6 SERVINGS DAIRY-FREE

In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of cleansing the body with only vegetables, Jai must be eaten on New Years Day. The dish has been eaten in one form or another for hundreds of years. It contains 28 different ingredients, including dried black moss, dried bean curd and ginkgo nuts, but this simplified version is just as good and much easier to prepare.

Make sauce: In small bowl, mix all sauce Ingredients. Set aside.

In medium bowl, soak mushrooms in 1/2 cup cold water until softened, about 30 minutes. In another bowl, soak noodles in hot (not boiling) water to cover 5 minutes.

Drain mushrooms and squeeze dry (reserve soaking water to use in soups). Cut off and discard stems; thinly slice caps and set aside. Drain noodles and set aside.

In wok or large deep skillet, heat vegetable oil over high heat. Add mushrooms, scallions, garlic and ginger and stir-fry 1 minute. Add carrot, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, baby corn, snow peas and cabbage and stir-fry 2 minutes.

Add sauce, cover and cook 5 minutes. Gently stir in noodles and tofu until well coated. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until most of the sauce is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Serve at once.

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