Fans of oriental cuisine admit that wheat flour pasta successfully competes with rice alternatives. Wok noodles with sweet and sour sauce, vegetables, meat, seafood have become an international dish over the past 150 years. A simple savory dish is quickly cooked in the deep, thin-walled Wok pan, which gives it its name.
Wok Noodles Today
Oriental recipes have won the attention of not only Chinese cuisine lovers. The combination of benefits, aroma, taste, ease of preparation, appetizing design attracts the attention of those who want to diversify their diet. The usual European recipes cannot be compared with the noodles cooked using Chinese technologies. Restaurants increasingly include Mao-Erdo, Mian-Hsien, Lo-Ming, Udon, Zosu, rice, glass noodles with Teriyaki sauce, and similar dishes. For their preparation, the Chinese usually use the black carbon steel wok, which is available on https://yosukata.com/black-carbon-steel-woks/. What are the advantages of these dishes?
- The cooking technology ensures maximum conservation of vitamins and minerals in the ingredients;
- Unique design, aroma, taste;
- Ease of digestion, improved metabolism, no risk of weight gain;
- The use of unique specific sauces that have no analogs in the cuisines of other nations;
- Possibility of self-preparation;
- Most ingredients are available.
Considering these and other advantages, Chinese noodle dishes have real prospects to hit any table. What is the history of this dish? Let’s find out!
History of Wok Noodles
Italian pasta with seafood and tomatoes was previously considered the prototype of noodles. In fact, it appeared in Italy after the return of Marco Polo in 1295 from China. For 24 years he traveled to the cities of this country, including visiting Guangzhou. The traveler brought many unusual Chinese products to Italy, among them were noodles.
The history of Chinese noodles goes back over 2000 years. In ancient settlements along the banks of the Yellow River, long thin noodles were made by kneading the dough and cutting it into long thin strips. The locals cooked this first pasta in thin-walled deep vessels over high fire, burning dry grass. Among the Chinese, noodles were considered a symbol of longevity and strength, so they were made with a length of more than half a meter.
During the Song dynasty, millet flour was replaced by wheat and rice flour, with the addition of mung beans and other ingredients. In the 10-13th centuries, noodles have spread to cities in China and beyond, to Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries.
Noodles gained popularity in the era of long-distance travel and discovery. At that time, there was a need for a product that expires for a long time and does not deteriorate during transportation. In the 16th century, Italians developed a variety of pasta products, among which the most famous are:
- lasagnette;
- spaghetti;
- penne.
Using expensive durum wheat, Europeans considered noodles a luxury. For the convenience of eating spaghetti, a fork with prongs was invented at the court of King Ferdinand II. Chinese recipes for noodle dishes are still in demand on all continents. Cooking in a spherical pan with oriental spices guarantees a special taste and aroma.
Top-5 Best Wok Noodle Recipes
The internationality of Chinese recipes is ensured by the democratic choice of spices, sauce, and the possibility of varying ingredients. It is quite appropriate to replace expensive shrimp meat with chicken fillet, fish, etc. Instead of pork, you can add turkey or duck meat.
A creative chef will make a new variation of Wok vegetables using asparagus, celery, eggplant, or mango slices. Similar experiments are allowed in the selection of spices. But in this case, the look and taste of the dish will differ from what is expected according to the recipe. In every country and in the hands of different chefs, Chinese noodles will acquire new unique tastes.
Egg noodles with chicken and pineapple
This recipe for egg noodles with chicken and pineapple can be one of the best dishes on the holiday table. The combination of meat and sweet notes of pineapple makes them taste incredible. For this dish you will need:
- Noodles;
- Chicken fillet;
- Vegetable oil;
- Shallot;
- Celery root;
- Pineapple pieces in syrup;
- Soy sauce;
- Salt, nutmeg;
- Sesame seeds;
- Parsley greens.
Wash and peel vegetables and meat. Cut the meat into slices, onion in half rings, celery into strips. Boil the noodles in salted water for 4 minutes. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok or deep frying pan. Put meat in heated oil, fry for 6-7 minutes until golden brown. Add the onion and celery to the wok and cook at medium heat until soft. Add some salt and soy sauce. Add pineapples to the wok. Mix everything thoroughly, continuing to fry for 3-4 minutes. Put the noodles in the wok, stir a little. Arrange the finished dish on plates, decorate with herbs, and sesame seeds.
Udon noodles with shrimp
For this popular international dish you will need:
- Udon noodles;
- Frozen shrimps;
- Sweet pepper;
- Onion;
- Carrot;
- Vegetable oil;
- Spices, salt;
- Teriyaki sauce;
- Dill greens.
Boil the shrimps for 4-5 minutes in salted water, cool, and peel them. Boil the noodles for 8 minutes, and then rinse with cool boiled water. Wash and peel vegetables. Cut the onion into half rings, carrots into thin strips, pepper into squares. Put vegetables in the heated oil, and cook for 5-6 minutes until transparent. Put noodles and shrimp in a wok with vegetables, fry for 2-3 minutes. Add some teriyaki sauce. Arrange the dish on plates and decorate it with dill.
Egg noodles with beef
For this extremely tasty Wok dish you will need the following ingredients:
- Egg noodles;
- Beef tenderloin;
- Vegetable oil;
- Onion;
- Bell pepper;
- Carrot;
- Mini corn;
- Green beans;
- Salt pepper;
- Roasted peanuts;
- Soy sauce;
- Cilantro greens.
Boil the noodles in salted water for 7-8 minutes. Wash and peel vegetables and herbs. Free the meat from the veins, cut it into long slices. Chop vegetables into strips, cubes, slices (except for corn and beans). Heat the oil in a frying pan, place the meat in it. Fry until golden brown for 12-15 minutes. Add some pepper and salt. In another frying pan, put vegetables in heated oil, fry for 10 minutes. Put vegetables on the meat, pour over soy sauce. Cook for 10 minutes. Put the noodles on plates, arrange the meat with vegetables and sauce. Serve with cilantro and roasted peanuts.
Zosu Curry Noodles
This recipe is for lovers of juicy spicy exclusives. It is recommended to cook Zosu Curry noodles in a deep frying pan or wok to make the dish as close to natural as possible. Ingredients:
- Rice noodles;
- Chicken thighs;
- Boiled pork;
- Refined sunflower oil;
- Onion;
- Cherry tomatoes;
- Broccoli;
- Cream;
- Salt, spices;
- Wine;
- Cilantro greens.
Boil the noodles for 7-8 minutes. Wash and peel meat, vegetables, mushrooms. Put chicken thighs in hot oil, and fry until crusty. Cut vegetables and mushrooms. Leave the tomatoes for the decoration of the finished dish. Put vegetables and mushrooms in a pan with the meat. Add some wine. Cook at medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Add cream 3 minutes before the end. Serve the noodles on flat plates, top with the meat and vegetables, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro.
In Conclusion
If the described recipes are unfamiliar to you, but you really want to try noodles with original sauces, meat, shrimp, vegetables, order the dish at the restaurant. If you got lost in the choice, select one of the above-mentioned dishes. With such a nice dinner, an unforgettable experience is guaranteed! Have you tried the above-mentioned recipes? Share your impressions with us!
