Aunt Lees Oriental Noodles Recipes

CANTONESE-STYLE PAN-FRIED NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large stockpot of water to boil. While the water is boiling, separate the greens from the whites of the scallion. Cut into one-inch pieces then quarter the 1-inch piece vertically so you end up with thinly julienned scallions, set aside. In a bowl, combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, stir to combine, set aside.
• When the water comes to a boil, add the noodles and allow them to boil for 2-4 minutes (according to package directions). Drain and rinse under cold running water.
• Heat a large wok or a 16-18 inch skillet over high heat. Let the skillet heat for several minutes until it becomes SCREAMING HOT. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of canola oil. When the pan becomes very hot and the oil starts to shimmer, add the noodles in a thin even layer. Grab the handle and carefully swirl the pan so the oil evenly coats all the noodles. Allow the noodles to cook for 4-6 minute or until they become crispy.
• Flip the noodles over using a large spatula. Do this carefully, don't worry if you cannot get all of them to turn at once. Do it in portions if necessary. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of canola oil around the perimeters of the pan and again, lift the skillet with handle and swirl the pan to allow the oil to distribute. Let the noodles fry for an additional 3-5 minutes. Remove the noodles to a plate.
• Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, along with the white part of the scallion and let sizzle for just 10 seconds. Add the shredded carrots if using, and let cook for an additional 10 seconds. Add the noodles back into the skillet and toss. Separate the noodles so there aren't any large clumps. Toss in the shredded cabbage mix, if using and drizzle with the soy sauce mixture and toss continuously for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce distributes evenly over the noodles.
• Add the bean sprouts if using and the greens of scallions. Toss to combine and serve immediately.

SIMPLE SESAME SOY ORIENTAL NOODLES

Steps:

• Start cooking the udon noodles according to the package directions.
• In a bowl, whisk together the next 6 ingredients.
• When the noodles are done, drain and transfer to a large bowl; drizzle the sauce over the noodles; toss quickly.
• Sprinkle the sliced scallions over the top.

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.

HOW TO TURN REGULAR PASTA TO CHINESE (ORIENTAL) NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring lots of water to boil as you would usually cook pasta.
• Add salt (I use about 1TBSP) and baking soda.
• Add pasta and cook about 2 minutes longer than what the package says. Drain and use in any recipes in place of Chinese noodles.

ORIENTAL BEEF NOODLES

Steps:

• Trim fat from steak, cut steak diagonally across grain into thin slices. Heat ½ teaspoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak, green onions and garlic; stir-fry for two minutes or until done to your preference. Remove steak from skillet; keep warm.
• Remove noodles from packages; only use one for recipe or part of one depending on salt preference. Add water and remaining seasoning packet to skillet; bring to a boil. Break noodles in half; add noodles to water mixture. Cook noodles for two minutes or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. Stir in steak mixture, vegetables and soy sauce; cook until thoroughly heated.
• To make this dish more quickly you can buy the slaw mix with shredded cabbage and carrot already made. Just use 2 cups of the slaw mix in place of the 1 cup of the shredded cabbage and 1 cups of shredded carrots.

SPICY SICHUAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Heat a wok or heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the peppercorns and stir-fry for about 5 minutes until they brown slightly and start to smoke. Remove them from the heat and allow them to cool, then grind them. Set aside.
• Combine the pork, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of the salt and mix well. Heat a wok or skillet, add the oil and when the oil is hot, deep-fry the pork, stirring it with a spatula to break up the pieces. When the pork is crispy, about four minutes, remove it with a slotted spoon and drain it on paper towels.
• Pour off all but two tablespoons of the oil. Put a pot containing 3 to 4 quarts of water on the stove and bring to a boil.
• Reheat the wok with the remaining oil and stir-fry the garlic, ginger and scallions for 30 seconds, then add the sesame paste, the remaining soy sauce and salt, the chili oil and chicken stock. Simmer for four minutes. Return the pork to the pan and stir.
• Cook the noodles in the boiling water two minutes if they are fresh, five minutes if they are dried (if using spaghetti, cook according to package directions). Drain in a colander. Transfer them to a serving bowl or individual bowls. Ladle on the sauce and top with the fried pork mixture. Sprinkle with the ground Sichuan peppercorns and serve.

AUNT LEE'S ORIENTAL NOODLES

Steps:

• Add noodles to boiling water and then return to a boil for 1 minute (or until the noodles are clear); drain and cut once or twice through the noodles so they are in slightly smaller pieces (the noodles will be sticky).
• Brown hamburger (or meat), add the garlic and sesame oil, and then sauté for 1 minute.
• Add the remaining vegetables and stir fry with the meat.
• Remove pan from heat and add the salt and soy sauce before mixing in the noodles.
• Stir to mix (use two forks to help break up clumps of noodles) and then serve.