Biang Biang noodles present you the facility of simplicity. With a spoonful of savory seasoned soy sauce and recent, nutty scorching sauce, these thick and meaty handmade noodles will ship you into taste ecstasy! {Vegetarian, Vegan}
Biang Biang noodles (additionally referred to as Yu Po Mian, 油泼面) are a sort of Chinese language noodle originating from Shaanxi province. The phrase “biang” is an onomatopoeia – it mimics the sound made within the course of of creating the noodles, when the dough is pulled and slapped in opposition to the working floor.
Identified for his or her size and thickness, these noodles are hand-pulled, making a chewy texture. They’re served in a spicy, tangy sauce made with chili oil, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic and Sichuan peppercorns. The dish is understood for its daring flavors and distinctive preparation methodology by pouring scorching oil into the spices (actually translated to Yu Po, or pouring scorching oil).
The character for “biang” can also be famously advanced, with many strokes, making it some of the intricate Chinese language characters.
For those who ever do this dish, even as soon as, you’ll be taught that its reputation is because of its simplicity and nice taste.
Why this recipe
I had the perfect bowl of Biang Biang noodles once I was visiting Xi’an (the town of origin for this dish) with my husband Thomas. It wasn’t even a well-known restaurant, only a random small store that we got here throughout on the aspect of the street. The massive bowl of fats noodles was topped with a savory tomato sauce, and a posh and effectively balanced chili sauce. It was so easy, but additionally wealthy and satisfying.
When making an attempt to recreate the Xi’an model of those noodles at house, I attempted a number of strategies and at last discovered an ideal one. My recipe makes use of:
- Effectively balanced savory sauces with soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil for the bottom.
- Chili flakes with different hidden flavors reminiscent of Sichuan peppercorns and cumin powder for a extra advanced chili oil.
- A easy two-ingredient tomato sauce to additional improve the style and texture, rounding out the spiciness of the chili oil.
Substances for biang biang noodles
What sort of noodles to make use of
Noodles are some of the necessary parts of the dish. For the perfect consequence, I extremely advocate making your personal hand-pulled noodles (the additional huge sort in my recipe). It yields chewy noodles with the perfect texture.
The following best choice is semi-fresh noodles which have a large form. The Havista model Shan Xi Pull Noodles and Shanxi Planed Noodles are each nice choices. For these noodles, you may typically discover them within the refrigerated part of Chinese language grocery shops or giant Asian markets reminiscent of H-Mart.
In my recipe, I used the Dried Wide Knife Cut Noodles from The Mala Market. You should purchase them online they usually keep in your pantry for much longer.
Chinese language chili flakes (辣椒面)
Chili flakes are one other necessary ingredient. To organize biang biang noodles, you may be pouring scorching oil over the chili flakes and different spices to make a chili oil. And chili flakes are the primary ingredient for a fantastic tasting sauce. The Chinese language chili flakes used on this recipe are a rough floor mix with a number of forms of Chinese language chili peppers, starting from smoky peppers to spicy peppers. The chili oil made with these chili flakes is reasonably spicy and really aromatic, with a good looking vibrant crimson shade.
I extremely advocate the chili flakes from The Mala Market, as a result of they supply the freshest spices immediately from Sichuan, China.
Different seasonings
Chinese language soy sauce (each the sunshine and the darkish sort) and Chinkiang vinegar make the bottom of the biang biang noodle sauce.
I additionally used Sichuan peppercorns and cumin powder as hidden substances.
Contemporary ginger, garlic and inexperienced onion, plus sesame oil add additional aroma and umami to the dish.
The way to make biang biang noodles
Making biang biang noodles requires a number of easy steps:
- Make a easy two ingredient tomato sauce
- Blanch child bok choy (or any veggies you’d wish to high in your noodles)
- Boil the noodles
- Combine the sauce base
- Toss the noodles within the sauce
- Unfold the spices and aromatics on high of the noodles
- Warmth scorching oil and pour it over the spices to prepare dinner them
- Instantly combine all the things collectively
The new oil will briefly prepare dinner the spices and aromatics, making a recent wealthy chili oil that’s bursting with umami. It’s necessary to unfold the spices evenly, then drizzle the new oil onto all of the spices, as a lot as potential. The new oil attracts out the perfume of the substances and makes the sauce additional scrumptious.
I like so as to add a tomato sauce onto my biang biang noodles. The bitter style and tender texture of the tomato steadiness out the spiciness of the chili oil, making the dish extra rounded with a greater mouthfeel. But it surely’s additionally OK to skip the tomato sauce, if you happen to choose to maintain the dish quite simple.
For those who order biang biang noodles in China, the eating places often assemble the noodles and the spices individually. On this recipe, I made two servings collectively in a giant bowl so it cuts down on the cooking steps.
The way to serve biang biang noodles
You’ll be able to serve biang biang noodles as a aspect dish or a foremost dish for a lightweight lunch. In China, it’s typically served as a savory snack that you could get pleasure from at any time of day.
You’ll be able to pair biang biang noodles with these dishes for a satisfying meal:
Biang Biang Noodles (Yu Po Mian)
Biang Biang noodles present you the facility of simplicity. With a spoonful of savory seasoned soy sauce and recent, nutty scorching sauce, these thick and meaty handmade noodles will ship you into taste ecstasy! {Vegetarian, Vegan}
Substances
Tomato sauce (elective however really useful)
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 2 tomatoes , diced
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Noodles
- 2 bundles (150 g) dried knife shaved noodles (or 400 g recent huge noodles or hand pulled-noodles)
- 4 heads child bok choy , powerful ends eliminated and minimize into giant chew measurement items (*Footnote 1)
- Chopped cilantro for garnish (Optionally available)
Directions
Make tomato sauce
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Add 1 tablespoon of oil right into a medium-sized skillet and warmth over medium warmth till scorching. Add the tomato and a pinch of salt. Chop and stir the tomatoes till the tomato items break down, 4 to five minutes. Pour in a small splash of water if the pan turns into too dry. Add the tomato paste. Hold stirring for 1 minute till the tomato paste is evenly combined. Switch to a bowl and put aside.
Assemble noodles
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Mix the soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, sesame oil and sugar in a big bowl. Stir to combine till the sugar has dissolved. Add the noodles and stir to mix.
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Add the white a part of the inexperienced onion, garlic, chili flakes, sesame seeds, cumin powder and floor Sichuan peppercorn on high.
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Warmth the oil in a small saucepan over medium warmth till scorching. Instantly pour the new oil over the noodles, overlaying as a lot seasoning as potential. Then stir all the things collectively to combine effectively whereas the oil remains to be scorching.
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Add the tomato sauce and blend once more (if utilizing).
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Garnish with child bok choy and cilantro. Serve instantly.
Notes
- Different Chinese language greens like choy sum, gai lan, and pea shoots all work effectively. You may also minimize up some cucumber and high it on the noodles immediately.
Diet
Serving: 1serving, Energy: 452kcal, Carbohydrates: 36.4g, Protein: 9.1g, Fats: 32g, Saturated Fats: 5.3g, Sodium: 549mg, Potassium: 499mg, Fiber: 2.7g, Sugar: 6.4g, Calcium: 101mg, Iron: 2mg