Chinese Crispy Noodles Food

CHINESE CRISPY NOODLES

Steps:

• If using fresh egg noodles, there is no need to do anything to prep them, as they will be easy to snap into snackable pieces after frying. If using egg roll or wonton wrappers, cut them into 1x4 inch (2.5x10 cm) strips.
• In a wok or deep medium pot where the oil will only come up about half the height of the pot, heat the oil to 375-400°F (190-204°C). Use a deep fry thermometer/candy thermometer to maintain temperature.
• Take a small handful of the noodles, and carefully drop them into the oil. As soon as they hit the oil, use a pair of wooden or bamboo chopsticks to break them up and prevent them from sticking together as they fry and expand.
• Fry for 20-30 seconds. Using your chopsticks or a slotted spoon, carefully flip the noodles and fry for another 20 seconds, or until evenly golden brown.
• Drain the fried noodles of excess oil, and transfer them to a plate or sheet pan lined with paper towels to cool. Sprinkle salt over the noodles to taste. Repeat until you've fried all of your noodles.

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.

CHINESE CRISPY NOODLES WITH SAUCY CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES (CRISPY CHOW MEIN!)

Steps:

• Mix the Sauce ingredients EXCEPT cornflour and chicken broth/stock.
• Remove 1 tbsp Sauce and mix through chicke. Leave to marinate 10 minutes+.
• Mix cornflour into Sauce until lump free.
• Turn oven onto low (to keep noodles warm while you cook the topping).
• Divide noodles into 2 then shape into 20cm/8" rounds. Keep them tangled - this holds them together while cooking.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in skillet over medium high heat. Place 1 noodle cake into pan then drizzle over 2 tbsp water.
• Wait until the water evaporates (steam cooks the noodles), then pat down lightly and let the noodles cook for a further 1 to 2 minute until the bottom of the noodles are golden brown (lift up with a spatula to check).
• Slide noodles onto a plate, then flip upside down back into the pan. Cook for a further 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until golden brown, then transfer to tray and place in oven to keep warm.
• Repeat with remaining noodle cake.
• Add an extra 1 tbsp oil if needed, increase heat to HIGH. Add garlic and onion, cook for 30 seconds.
• Add chicken and cook until it changes from pink to white (still raw inside)
• Add the carrot and bok choy stems, cook 30 seconds.
• Add cabbage and leaf of buk choy, cook for 1 minute until they start to wilt.
• Add chicken broth, water, then Sauce and stir. Let it simmer for 1 - 2 minutes until the Sauce thickens to a syrup consistency (see video).
• Place a noodle cake on the plate, then spoon over the stir fry onto the middle of the noodles (leave edges crispy) being sure to use up all the sauce so it soaks the noodles. Serve immediately!

CHINESE TAKE-OUT CHICKEN CHOW MEIN WITH CRISPY NOODLES

Steps:

• Combine the chicken, 1 tablespoon of rice wine and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce in a medium bowl. Marinate at room temperature while you assemble the rest of the ingredients.
• In a separate bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup of soy sauce, the remaining 3 tablespoons of rice wine, the stock, rice vinegar, sesame oil, oyster sauce, sugar, red chili sauce, and cornstarch. Set aside.
• Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in an large pot. Add the noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking. Lay the noodles out on paper towels to dry.
• Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan to 360ºF and add the noodles.
• They will cling together forming a pancake of sorts. Fry this on one side for about 5 minutes, or until the bottom is crisp, then flip the noodle pancake with a spatula and fry the other side for 3 minutes. Drain the noodle pancake on paper towels, cover with aluminum foil, and keep in a warm place.
• Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the oil from the wok and add the chicken. Stir-fry until it is almost cooked, about 2 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and add the garlic and ginger. Cook for 30 seconds, then add the onion, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, snow peas, and carrot. Stir-fry the vegetables for 4 minutes or until the color brightens. Return the chicken to the pan, and stir in the sauce. Cover and cook 3 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the sauce thickens.
• Place the noodle cake on a large serving dish and top with the chicken and vegetables. Serve hot.
• Variation: You may substitute beef, pork, tofu, or shrimp for the chicken in this recipe.

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.