Thick White Noodles In Soup Topped With Eggs And Scallions Food

SOMEN NOODLES WITH POACHED EGG, BOK CHOY AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to a simmer.
• Heat vegetable oil in a pot over medium. Add scallion whites and sliced mushrooms, season with salt and cook until browned, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add 3 cups water to the pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Add bok choy and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Stir in soy sauce and 2 teaspoons sesame oil and season to taste with salt. Turn off heat and cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, cook somen according to package instructions in the simmering water in the saucepan. Using a slotted spoon or spider, divide the noodles among bowls, leaving the simmering water in the saucepan. Crack each egg into its own small bowl, discarding the shells. Swirl the simmering water in the saucepan, creating a vortex by stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs, one right after another, and cook over medium-low until the whites are set, about 3 minutes. Transfer eggs to noodle bowls using a slotted spoon.
• Ladle the reserved shiitake broth into the bowls. Top with sliced scallion greens, drizzle with sesame oil and serve.

SELF-STOMPED THICK WHITE NOODLES

Steps:

• Mix the dough by placing 3 cups of flour in a bowl and pouring in half the saltwater in a steady, slow stream. Gently stir to mix. Gradually drizzle in more of the salted water, stirring until the dough forms a slightly crumbly mass. Exert a bit of pressure to form the dough into a ball and place it in a closed plastic bag to rest for about 30 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate it for several hours or overnight.
• Sandwich the rested noodle dough between layers of heavy-duty plastic (a 6-foot plastic, oilcloth, or vinyl tablecloth, folded in half, works well). Place the plastic-enclosed dough on the floor, and stand barefoot on top of it. Press down with both feet - the whole surface of your feet, not just the heels - and gradually turn in a circular fashion, using small, stomping steps. As your body weight is applied, the dough will flatten out and stretch. Stop occasionally to remove and fold the dough with your hands, then sandwich it again between the layers of plastic cloth and repeat your foot-pressing activity. If necessary to prevent the dough from sticking to the plastic, sprinkle it with additional flour.
• After 4 or 5 minutes, when the dough feels elastic and has acquired a satiny sheen, do a final round of stomping to flatten it into a 1/4 inch-thick, more-or-less, oval shape.
• Transfer the dough to a large, lightly floured board. Alternating vertical and horizontal strokes, use a lightly floured rolling pin to stretch the dough into a large oval, about 1/8-inch thick, 1 foot wide, and about 1 1/2 feet long. If necessary, divide the dough in half and make two smaller ovals.
• Sprinkle the rolled-out dough liberally with flour, and fold it back on itself 4 or 5 times (like folding a paper fan, but do not crease or press the folded dough). Use a long, sharp knife to cut the dough into 1/4-inch-thick ribbons that are 1 1/2 feet long. Lightly dust the noodles with flour before lifting them from the board.
• Bring a very large pot of water to a rolling boil. Gently shake off excess flour from the noodles before lowering them into the pot. Stir the noodles to be sure they separate into individual strands. Cook at a steady boil for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Test a noodle by pulling it out of the pot and plunging it into cold water: It should be translucent, with no hard core, but still firm. If necessary, boil further, checking progress every 45 seconds or so.
• If you will be serving the noodles hot later, lift them from the pot, reserving the boiling water (either use a pasta insert, or scoop a strainer or colander under the noodles).
• If you will be serving the noodles cold, drain them.
• Whether you plan to serve the noodles hot or cold, rinse them well under cold running water to remove surface starch that would otherwise make them gummy.
• Set the noodles aside until ready to eat - they can be held for up to several hours (refrigerate if holding for more than 20 minutes). When ready to use, rinse noodles in boiling hot water if serving them in hot soup, or cold water if serving them chilled as a salad.

STEAMY BOWL OF NOODLES WITH POACHED DUCK EGG, SCALLIONS, AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Make the stock: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Season ducks with salt and pepper and place side by side in a roasting pan. Add carrots, celery, onions, and garlic to pan. Roast, turning ducks occasionally, until golden brown, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Remove meat from 1 duck, slice, and reserve. Transfer duck bones, remaining roasted duck, and vegetables to a stockpot. Place herbs, bay leaf, and peppercorns in cheesecloth, wrap, and tie with kitchen twine. Add to pot along with the sliced ginger and 1 tablespoon salt. Add enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer, uncovered, occasionally skimming foam from the surface, for about 2 hours.
• Strain stock through a fine sieve into a large bowl. Discard solids. Season with salt to taste. Let cool completely. Cover, and refrigerate. When stock is cold, skim fat. (Stock can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.)
• Make the noodles: Whisk together flours and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in center, add eggs and water, and lightly beat together with a fork. Gradually draw dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing with the fork until just incorporated. Knead dough by hand on a floured work surface or with a mixer fitted with the dough hook until very smooth and supple, 10 to 15 minutes by hand, 8 to 10 minutes with a mixer. Wrap dough in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
• Divide dough into 4 portions. Feed 1 piece of dough (keep remaining pieces covered with plastic) through a pasta machine's widest setting (#1) twice. Continue to feed dough through ever-finer settings, 2 passes on each setting, until sheet is 1/16 inch thick (#4). If dough is sticking, dust very lightly with flour. Cut sheet into 9-inch-long pieces. Pass each sheet through the fettuccine attachment. Transfer to a lightly oiled wooden drying rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Let noodles dry on rack for 45 to 60 minutes.
• Make the soup: Transfer stock to a large saucepan, and bring to a vigorous simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a simmer. Add vinegar. Crack 1 egg into a ramekin or cup, then carefully slide egg into the water and cook for 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer poached egg to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat.
• Add peas to simmering stock. Cook until bright green and tender, 5 minutes for fresh peas and 2 minutes for frozen. Add noodles. Cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Add reserved duck meat, and heat until warm, about 1 minute. Ladle noodles, peas, and soup into bowls. Place a poached egg on top of each serving, and top with scallions and mushrooms. Season with pepper. Serve immediately.

GOLDEN NOODLE SOUP WITH SOFT-BOILED EGGS

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to the boil and carefully lower in the eggs using the slotted spoon. Set a timer for 7 mins if you like your eggs a little runny in the middle, or 8 mins for a set yolk. Have a bowl of cold water nearby. When the timer beeps, scoop the eggs from the hot water using your spoon and plunge them into the cold water. Set aside to cool.
• Fill a medium saucepan with enough water to come halfway up the side of the pan. Bring the water to the boil over a high heat, reduce the heat, then lower in the noodles and season the water with a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 mins, or until just cooked - test one noodle to see if it's done. Drain the noodles and drizzle over 1 tbsp oil while they're in the colander. Toss the oil through the noodles to prevent them from sticking together.
• Peel the garlic cloves and crush them to a paste using a garlic crusher.
• Pour the remaining 1 tbsp oil into the medium saucepan (no need to wash it first), and turn the heat to medium. Add the garlic and ginger, stirring for 1 min until sizzling, then add the turmeric and stir for another 30 secs.
• Add the stock, coconut milk, soy sauce and sugar to the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer and bubble, for 2 mins.
• Cut the sugar snap peas in half on an angle, then drop them into the hot soup and cook for 1 min. Thinly slice the spring onions.
• Divide the noodles between four shallow bowls. Use a ladle to spoon over the hot soup and sugar snap peas. Carefully peel the eggs, then cut them in half and serve 2 halves on top of each serving of noodles, before scattering with the spring onions and coriander.

MO GU MIAN TIAO TANG (WHITE WIND MUSHROOM NOODLE SOUP)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 6-qt saucepan over medium-high heat. Brown wings (8 minutes). Add scallions, garlic, ginger and water and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until chicken falls off the bone, (1 hour). Pour broth through a fine strainer, discard solids and set broth aside.
• Meanwhile, place mushrooms in a large bowl and pour 4 cups boiling water over. Let sit until softened (15 minutes). Drain mushrooms, reserving soaking liquid. Finely chop mushrooms and set aside.
• Heat oil in a 10 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add potatoes and fry until lightly browned and cooked through (10 minutes). Transfer to paper towels to drain and set aside.
• Add mirlitons to oil and fry until soft (30 seconds). Transfer to paper towels to drain and set aside.
• Drain off all but 2 tbsp of oil and return to medium heat. Add eggs and swirl skillet to make an omelette. Cook, turning once, until just cooked through (2 minutes). Transfer to a cutting board. Roll up omelette like a cigar and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick strips. Set aside.
• Return saucepan to medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring, until crisp (14-16 minutes). Add scallions, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring, until soft (8 minutes). Add mushrooms and cook until liquid is evaporated (6 minutes).
• Add reserved broth and mushroom soaking liquid. Bring to a boil. Add noodles and cook, stirring occasionally until al dente (7 minutes). Stir in soy sauce and vinegar.
• To serve, divide noodle soup among 8 large serving bowls and top each with potatoes, mirliton, and egg strips. Serve with chile paste.