Chinese Chilled Noodles Recipes

COLD NOODLES WITH SICHUAN DRESSING (LIANG MIAN, 凉面)

Steps:

• Put minced garlic, Sichuan pepper & star anise into a small bowl. Add hot water. Leave to infuse.
• Option 1: Put the chicken on a plate. Steam for 15 mins over medium heat. Transfer to another plate to cool.
• Option 2: Place the chicken in a roasting tray. Cover the tray with tin foil. Cook for 20 mins in a preheated oven at 390°F/200°C/Fan 180°C. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Bring a pot of water to a full boil. Add noodles. Boil until they are just cooked or a little undercooked. Be attentive to avoid boiling over.
• Drain the noodles. Rinse under tap water to cool.
• Transfer to a large bowl. Add sesame oil. Toss well.
• Shred the chicken either by hand or with a knife. Add to the noodles along with cucumber, scallions and fresh chilli.
• Drain the aromatic water through a sieve. Discard the garlic & spices. Pour the water over the noodles. Add all the ingredients for the dressing and mix well.
• Transfer the noodles to 2 serving bowls. Top each one with coriander, peanuts (if using).

COLD SESAME NOODLES

Steps:

• Cook the noodles al dente and reserve some of the cooking liquid. Rinse the noodles with cold water and drain.
• Stir together all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Julienne the scallion, carrot, and cucumber.
• Blanch bean sprouts in boiling water for 15 seconds and put into an ice bath and drain.
• In a bowl, pour the sauce over the noodles. Add the vegetables, chopped cilantro, crushed peanuts and toasted sesame seeds on top and serve immediately, along with extra toppings like chili sauce, rice vinegar, or soy sauce.

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 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.

RICE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, carrot, pineapple, cilantro and onion. , In a blender, combine the dressing ingredients; cover and process until blended. Drain noodles and rinse in cold water; drain well. Add to spinach mixture. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.

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 :).