Cold Chinese Noodles Food

CHINESE CHILLED NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the sesame oil, black soy sauce, balsamic, sugar, salt, and Chile Oil. Whisk to blend. Stir in half of the sliced scallions. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• When the water boils, season with salt until the water tastes like seawater. Plunge the pasta in the boiling water and cook, 3 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Place a colander in the sink. Remove the pot from the heat and pour off most of the water into the colander, catching any pasta as the water pours out.
• Remove the colander from the sink and fill the pot still containing the pasta with cold water. You want the pasta to cool quickly by being submerged in the cold water. This will assure a chewy texture.
• Drain the pasta thoroughly in the colander, shaking it a few times to remove excess water covering the pasta. Spread a kitchen towel on a flat surface and turn the noodles onto the towel. Gently use a second towel to dry the noodles. Removing the excess moisture assures that the sauce will have its proper flavoring effect on the noodles. Any water from cooking the pasta dilutes the noodles and makes them taste more like water than anything else. Gingerly transfer them the bowl with the sauce. Use your hands to mix the pasta and the sauce, taking care that all of the pasta gets coated. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• These noodles can marinate for a few hours or overnight before serving. Serve them cold, tossing them again in the sauce just before serving, and garnish with the remaining scallions.
• Remove the stems from the chiles then place in a food processor and blend until they are completely broken down.
• Use a rubber spatula and scrape into a medium sized saute pan. Add the oil and stir well. Set the pan over medium-low heat. Gently warm up the oil slowly so it draws out the color and flavor of the chiles. Stir well and season with salt. Once the oil is barely simmering, cook for 5 to 6 minutes. hut off heat and allow to cool. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

COLD CHINESE NOODLES IN PEANUT-SESAME SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook noodles in large pot of boiling unsalted water over medium heat until barely tender and still firm. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water until cold. Drain well and toss noodles with (2 Tbsp) dark sesame oil so they don't stick together.
• FOR DRESSING:
• Combine all ingredients except hot water in a blender or food processor fitted with steel blade and blend until smooth. Thin with hot water to consistency of whipping cream.
• For carrot curls: peel flesh of carrot in short shavings about 4" long. Place in ice water for 15 minutes to curl.
• Just before serving, toss noodles with sauce. Garnish with cucumber, peanuts, green onion, and carrot curls. Serve at room temperature.
• * HOT PEPPER OIL: the amount you use depends on how hot you like it. 2 tablespoons.
• will give it a nice "bite." If your tastes run to the very hot, you might want to use 3TB.
• If you want to make your own oil:
• 1/4 cup hot red pepper flakes, 1 cup oil. Combine in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil, and immediately turn off heat. Let cool. Strain in small glass container that can be sealed. Refrigerate.
• Lasts indefinitely.

COLD NOODLES WITH SESAME SAUCE, CHICKEN AND CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Set a large pot of water to boil and salt it. If your chicken is uncooked, poach it in water as it comes to a boil; it will cook in about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, peel cucumbers, cut them in half, and, using a spoon, scoop out seeds. Cut cucumber into shreds and set aside.
• When water comes to a boil, cook pasta until tender but not mushy. (If chicken is not done, you can still add pasta; remove chicken when it is done.) While pasta is cooking, whisk together sesame oil and paste, sugar, soy, ginger, vinegar, hot oil and pepper in a large bowl. Thin sauce with hot water, so that it is about the consistency of heavy cream; you will need 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Stir in cucumber. When pasta is done, drain it and run pasta (and chicken, if necessary) under cold water. Drain. Shred chicken (the easiest way to do this is with your fingers).
• Toss noodles and chicken with sauce and cucumbers. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary (the dish may need salt), then garnish and serve.

COLD CHINESE NOODLES

Steps:

• Try to julienne ham, chicken and onions about the same sizes, 2 inches or so.
• Combine the chicken, ham, scallions and pecans in a large mixing bowl. Add the pasta.
• Heat the vegetable and sesame oils and sesame seeds in a small saucepan over medium heat just until the sesame seeds turn light brown.
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the coriander and soy sauce. Stand back as you do this for the mixture will crackle and sizzle. Stir in the chili oil.
• Pour the hot dressing over the noodles and toss to coat evenly. Transfer the noodles to a serving bowl put in fridge to cool, about 3 hours.
• Enjoy :).