Brothy Chinese Noodles Food

DAN-DAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Pulse the sesame seeds in a mini food processor with 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt until powdery; set aside.
• Prepare the stir-fry: Quarter, seed and finely dice the pickles and put in a bowl. In another bowl, mix the garlic, ginger, scallions, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Mix 1 tablespoon soy sauce and the broth in a third bowl. Mix the pork with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt in another bowl. Place the four bowls by the stove.
• Place a large skillet over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, then the pork, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until cooked but not dry, 4 minutes. Transfer the meat to a bowl and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the skillet; stir-fry the pickles for 1 minute. Add the garlic mixture and fry 30 seconds. Add the broth and boil until reduced by half, 4 minutes. Divide the broth among bowls and drizzle with the chili oil and vinegar.
• Meanwhile, add the noodles and bok choy to the boiling water and cook until just tender, 2 minutes. Drain and toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil. Season with salt, then divide among the bowls. Top with pork and sprinkle with sesame powder. Serve with more sesame and chili oil.

BROTHY NOODLE BOWL WITH MUSHROOMS AND CHILES

Steps:

• For the dashi:
• Bring mushrooms, ginger, chile, garlic, kombu, turmeric, and 4 1/2 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat to very low, and gently simmer 25 minutes to allow aromatics to infuse and flavor the water. Strain dashi through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Wipe out saucepan and pour dashi back in. Return to a simmer.
• Mix miso and 1 Tbsp. dashi in a small bowl, then stir into dashi in pan along with soy sauce; season with salt. Keep dashi hot if using right away.
• Do Ahead: Dashi can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool, then transfer to an airtight container and chill.
• For the noodles and assembly:
• Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Cook mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and beginning to crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, finely grate garlic over mushrooms, and mix well (garlic will cook in residual heat of mushrooms). Season with salt.
• Drop noodles into very hot dashi. Cover pan and let sit 3 minutes.
• Divide noodles and dashi among bowls. Top with mushrooms, radishes, herbs, fermented vegetables, and sesame seeds; drizzle with hot sauce and sesame oil.

CRISPY CHINESE NOODLES (RESTAURANT STYLE)

Steps:

• Heat a wok over medium heat until very hot and pour vegetable oil into hot wok. Let oil heat until the surface shimmers. To test heat, lower the tip of a wooden chop stick into the oil; if it bubbles vigorously, oil is heated enough.
• Cut egg roll wrappers into 1-inch strips and gently lay strips into the hot oil, 2 or 3 at a time. When strips start to brown on one side, gently flip over and brown the other side until the strips are crisp and golden brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Repeat with remaining egg roll wrappers, working in batches. Remove crisp noodles with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

SIMPLE CHINESE NOODLES

Steps:

• Put noodles in 4 cups of salted boiling water. Cook 1-2 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Drain and dry.
• Heat oil in wok or frypan until smoking hot.
• Add ginger and onion stir for 30 seconds.
• Add noodles and fry for 5 minutes over med heat.
• Add sauce, and stir until coated.
• Serve hot or cold.
• Sometimes I add some julienned carrots or broccoli to this.

CHINESE HAND-PULLED NOODLES IN BEEF BROTH

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add beef, ginger, Szechuan peppercorns, dried tsaoko, dried mandarin peels, and bay leaves; bring soup back to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, for 2 hours.
• Discard whole spices. Season beef broth with salt to taste. Cover and keep warm.
• Place flour in a large bowl and gradually mix in water. Mix until dough comes together; knead until smooth, 15 to 20 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead dough again for 2 minutes; cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead dough one more time for 2 minutes. Divide into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 3/8-inch-thick sheet. Brush both sides of each sheet with oil. Stack sheets together; cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add sliced daikon and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove using a slotted spoon and drain well; set aside. Save water to cook the noodles.
• Place 1 sheet of dough on a cutting board and slice into 1/8-inch-wide strips. Take one end of a strip in each hand and stretch it until it is 30 to 35 inches long. Fold it into thirds and stretch again to the same length; shake and slap against the counter several times to lengthen it to 2 to 3 yards. Drop it into the boiling water. Add 2 to 3 more strips of noodles to the boiling water; cook until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer drained noodles to a serving bowl.
• Repeat the process with the remaining sheets of dough. Pour beef broth on top of the drained noodles and top with cooked beef, daikon, chopped green garlic, cilantro, and chili oil.