Cantonese Pan Fried Noodles Food

CANTONESE SOY SAUCE PAN-FRIED NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Rinse the bean sprouts in cold water and drain. Julienne the scallions. Mix the soy sauces, sesame oil, salt, sugar, wine and white pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
• Boil the noodles. Fresh noodles should be boiled for about 1 minute. For dried noodles, boil for 2 minutes. Rinse in cold water and drain very well.
• Heat the wok over high heat and add a tablespoon of oil to coat the wok (you can also use a cast iron or non-stick pan for this). Spread the noodles in a thin, even layer on the wok and tilt the wok in a circular motion to distribute the oil and crisp the bottom layer of the noodles evenly. It should take about 5 minutes for the first side.
• Flip the noodles over. add another tablespoon of oil around the perimeter of the wok, and let the other side crisp up. Don't stress if you can't turn the noodles over in one shot. The goal here is just to get an even crispness and to dry out the noodles during this cooking stage. Set the noodles aside on a plate.
• Heat the wok over high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil and all of the white parts of the scallion to the pan. Cook for about 15 seconds. Next, add the noodles to the wok and toss them well, breaking up the noodles so they're not all in one big clump. Add the soy sauce mixture and toss continuously for a couple minutes. Keep the heat on high.
• After the noodles are uniformly golden brown, add the bean sprouts and toss. Add the rest of the scallions and toss the mixture again for another 1 to 2 minutes until you see the bean sprouts just starting to turn transparent. You want the sprouts to be cooked but still crunchy.
• Plate and serve!

CANTONESE-STYLE PAN-FRIED NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large stockpot of water to boil. While the water is boiling, separate the greens from the whites of the scallion. Cut into one-inch pieces then quarter the 1-inch piece vertically so you end up with thinly julienned scallions, set aside. In a bowl, combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, stir to combine, set aside.
• When the water comes to a boil, add the noodles and allow them to boil for 2-4 minutes (according to package directions). Drain and rinse under cold running water.
• Heat a large wok or a 16-18 inch skillet over high heat. Let the skillet heat for several minutes until it becomes SCREAMING HOT. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of canola oil. When the pan becomes very hot and the oil starts to shimmer, add the noodles in a thin even layer. Grab the handle and carefully swirl the pan so the oil evenly coats all the noodles. Allow the noodles to cook for 4-6 minute or until they become crispy.
• Flip the noodles over using a large spatula. Do this carefully, don't worry if you cannot get all of them to turn at once. Do it in portions if necessary. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of canola oil around the perimeters of the pan and again, lift the skillet with handle and swirl the pan to allow the oil to distribute. Let the noodles fry for an additional 3-5 minutes. Remove the noodles to a plate.
• Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, along with the white part of the scallion and let sizzle for just 10 seconds. Add the shredded carrots if using, and let cook for an additional 10 seconds. Add the noodles back into the skillet and toss. Separate the noodles so there aren't any large clumps. Toss in the shredded cabbage mix, if using and drizzle with the soy sauce mixture and toss continuously for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce distributes evenly over the noodles.
• Add the bean sprouts if using and the greens of scallions. Toss to combine and serve immediately.

CRISPY PAN-FRIED NOODLES WITH CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES (GAI SEE LIANG MEIN WONG)

Steps:

• Combine the dried mushrooms and 2 cups cool water in a medium bowl. Cover and let soak at room temperature for 4 hours.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a 14-inch wok over high heat. Cook the noodles according to the package directions until tender all the way through, about 3 minutes. Strain the noodles and divide them between two plates. Lift small amounts of noodles up and down with chopsticks to cool the noodles and form each plate of noodles into an 8-inch "bird's nest" shape. Let them cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, lightly cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cut the chicken thighs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Mix the chicken and 3/4 teaspoon each salt, sugar, cornstarch, light soy sauce and Shaoxing wine together in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon neutral oil until combined. Cover and refrigerate.
• Once the mushrooms are nearly rehydrated, bring 6 cups of water in the same wok to a boil. Blanch the carrots until slightly tender, about 1 minute. Strain the carrot out of the water with a spider or slotted spoon and place on a plate to cool slightly. Bring the water back to a boil, add the bok choy and cook until just tender, about 2 minutes. Strain the bok choy and place with the carrot. Set aside.
• Prepare the scallions by cutting them into 2-inch pieces, then thinly slicing them lengthwise. Chop the garlic so everything is ready for stir-frying.
• Meanwhile, mix the oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon light soy sauce, and the dark soy sauce together in a medium bowl until smooth. Set aside.
• Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 5 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
• Remove the mushrooms from the water with a slotted spoon (reserve the soaking water). Squeeze the water from the mushrooms, cut off and discard the stems and thinly slice the caps. Mix the sliced mushrooms with 1/2 teaspoon each salt, sugar, cornstarch, light soy sauce and Shaoxing wine in a small bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon neutral oil and mix until combined. Mix the mushroom soaking liquid with the oyster sauce mixture until combined.
• Pour enough neutral oil into a wok (about 5 cups for a 14-inch wok) so it comes 2 inches up the sides but not above halfway up the wok. (See Cook's Note.) Heat over high heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
• As the oil is heating up, loosen the noodles again just before frying by using chop sticks to separate and fluff them. Transfer one cooled noodle nest into a large spider, slowly and carefully lower it into the hot oil (step away from the wok as the oil may splatter for the first few seconds). Fry for 5 minutes. Flip the noodles using the spider and chopsticks, push any noodles back that are sticking out to keep the shape, and fry until the edges of the nest are crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the crispy noodles to a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe off as much oil as possible; the nest will crisp more as it sits.
• Repeat with the remaining nest of noodles, adding more oil to the wok if necessary to make sure the noodles are completely submerged. Drain on another paper towel-lined plate. Carefully discard the oil.
• Heat the wok over high heat until smoking. Pour in 1 tablespoon neutral oil and swirl it around the wok to coat the surface. Spread the chicken in an even layer and fry undisturbed until it starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Toss and stir-fry until the chicken is opaque, about 1 minute. Add the shiitake mushrooms and chopped garlic; stir fry for 1 minute. Pour the remaining 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine around the sides of the wok and stir fry until the wok is dry again, about 30 seconds.
• Add the oyster sauce mixture, carrots, bok choy and scallions. Bring to boil, slowly drizzle in half the cornstarch slurry and mix until thickened, about 30 seconds. Add more if needed.
• Transfer the noodle nests to plates or platters and pour the sauce into the middle of the crispy noodles. Serve hot.

CANTONESE PAN FRIED NOODLES

Steps:

• Cook the noodles until soft and drain them well.
• Heat a wide and shallow pan on high heat and when it is VERY HOT, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to it.
• Spread ½ of the cooked noodles in a thin and even layer on the pan.
• Tilt the pan in a circular motion to coat the bottom of the noodles with the oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip the noodles using a large spatula or a tong and drizzle another tablespoon of oil. Tilt the pan to coat the noodles.
• Don't worry if you can't turn the noodles in one go. Just make sure to turn all the patches. Let the other side crisp up for 2-3 minutes. Remove the noodles to a plate and fry the remaining half in the same manner.
• Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a large wok or a pan over high heat.
• When the oil is hot and shimmery, add the white part of green onions and garlic and saute for 3-4 seconds.
• Add the fried noodles back to the pan. Break them so they are not in big clumps.
• Add dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark brown sugar, red pepper flakes, beans sprouts, green onions, black pepper, and salt to taste to the pan and toss well to coat the noodles with the sauce.
• Serve immediately.

CHINESE FRIED NOODLES

Steps:

• Boil ramen noodles for 3 minutes, or until softened, without flavor packets. Reserve flavor packets. Drain noodles, and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet. Scramble eggs in a bowl. Cook and stir in hot oil until firm. Set aside.
• In a separate skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of oil over medium heat. Cook and stir green onions in oil for 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to a separate dish, and set aside. Heat another teaspoon of cooking oil in the same skillet. Cook and stir the the carrots, peas, and bell peppers separately in the same manner, setting each aside when done.
• Combine 2 tablespoons sesame oil with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a separate skillet or wok. Fry noodles in oil for 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat, turning regularly. Sprinkle soy sauce, sesame oil, and desired amount of reserved ramen seasoning packets over noodles, and toss to coat. Add vegetables, and continue cooking, turning frequently, for another 5 minutes.

SEAFOOD PAN FRIED NOODLES

Steps:

• Clean, peel, and de-vein shrimp. Rinse scallops.
• Marinade seafood with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp cornstarch to coat. Keep in fridge until ready to cook.
• Boil water and cook noodles for a few minutes.
• Drain noodles and pan fry in a non-stick pan with 1T oil.
• Once brown and crisp, transfer to serving plate and set aside.
• Heat oil in wok. Add garlic and ginger and stir-fry seafood until cooked. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add vegetables, chicken broth, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
• When vegetables are about done, add seafood back to pan.
• Add remaining cornstarch mixed with a little water to thicken broth.
• Pour over noodles and serve hot.

CANTONESE CHOW MEIN

Steps:

• Immerse egg noodles into boiling water for 30 seconds, then remove and set aside.
• Heat your wok at high heat, keep it dry. Add 5 tbsp oil and coat the wok evenly with oil.
• Fry the noodles for about 2 minutes, and keep shaking it back and forth, until the noodles turn golden brown. Flip and repeat.
• The outer noodles should be golden, inner ones are soft. Remove noodles and arrange in center of a plate.
• Blanch the vegetables in boiling water (30 seconds). You can arrange the bok choy in a circle around the noodles if you like.
• Put some oil and fry minced garlic in the work, then add the blanched vegetables and stir fry. Add the meat ingredients, 1 tbsp water, cover the wok and steam for 1 - 2 minutes.
• Add the flavouring ingredients, the water with corn starch, and fry gently. Add a bit more water if you want more sauce.
• Pour the veggies and meat over the noodles.
• Note #1: Char xiu (Honey BBQ pork) is available in Chinatown or a good Chinese grocery store, as well as baby boy choy (also known as Shanghai bok choy).
• Note #2: Ideally you should use a large non-stick wok for frying noodles. Traditionally, Chinese people use a carbon steel wok, which is baked in the oven after purchase, and then rubbed with oil after washing each time to protect it. It turns black over time, and is pretty much non-stick. You could also use a non-stick pan, but non-stick coatings are poisonous and will accumulate in your body. Non-stick pans should generally be only used with medium or low heat. If you like them, get a professional grade non-stick pan for high heat cooking, it feels like ceramic.
• Note #3: I often add a dash of rice wine (sake) to the meat and vegetables. It just gives it a little extra flavour and isn't salty like most cooking wines.