A word about the noodles. There are no clear proof as to where the food originated; some say the Arabs, others China, some others Germany/ Italy. It really does not make any difference as it has now become an international food. Basically noodles are made from wheat flour or rice but there are noodles made from potatoes and lentil flour. Mostly noodles are machine made and the hand pulled noodles are only available in China. The children just love noodles and therefore became one of the first dishes I tried to perfect. I prefer egg noodles as it is softer and never the 2 minute Maggie noodles. Though not based on any facts, I think all these companies making these 2 minutes noodles, add addictive taste makers (Ajni-moto) and therefore cause harm to the children. There are no manufacturing secrets to noodle making, the sauces and the method of preparing makes all the difference.
Two common methods of preparing noodles are Chow Mein and Lo Mein. When ingredients are stir fried and served over noodles it is Chow Mein. In Lo Mein the boiled noodles are stir fried in the wok and other ingredients mixed into it. This allows the noodles to soak up all the flavours. Having an iron wok is a good investment as noodles made in an iron wok somehow tastes better than the non stick Karahi (cooking pot).
I always add a lot of vegetables to the noodles and that makes it more tastier. It is also the best way to get the children to eat the veggies. The sauce the noodles are stir fried in should be subtle to the tongue but at the same time have a wonderful flavour. It is extremely important how the vegetables are cut. It should be long and as thin as possible like the noodles and see how the children will love it. More the vegetables, the preparation becomes that much healthier for the kids.
Ingredients
Noodles are tasty when served hot, hence the sequencing of the preparation is very important. If the noodles are left to drain for long, it will become dry or if the stir fried veggies are left for long, it will become soggy and loose its crunchiness. Hence time the preparation so that it all fits in like a jigsaw puzzle. The most tedious step is cutting the vegetable, so do that first. Cut all the vegetables lengthwise and keep it separately. Then cut the chicken into strips and mix the same with cornflour so that it becomes crisp when fried. Cut the bacon strips into tiny pieces.
Now the cooking. Take a pot and boil water in it. Add salt and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to it. Now add the noodles. Do not break it, just leave it into the pot and the length will fold itself into the pot. It will take about 8 to 10 minutes for the noodles to cook. Place the wok on the stove and pour oil into it and get it real hot. Now add the vegetables one by one into the wok except for the onion and spring onion. Once all the vegetables are added put some sea salt into the mix and take it off the fire. The noodle should be ready by now, take it out and put it under running water. Once it is cool put the noodles into a strainer and allow it it to drain out. Whisk the eggs and make a thin omelette. Cut it into thin long strips. Come back to the wok and pour oil into it. Once it is hot crush the garlic and put it into oil followed by sliced onion. Once the onions become translucent add the bacon and let it blend in. Now pour the soy sauces and the cooking wine and a tablespoon of sugar into the wok. Add the chicken now and fry the same till it becomes crisp. Now add a layer of noodles followed by the veggies and then cover it with the balance of noodles. Keep tossing it till the noodles are soft. Add oil if necessary and if the mix is becoming dry add some water. Now put the cut spring onions and the omelette pieces into it and give it a last toss. The fried noodles are ready. Add 5 ladles of love and serve it.
Two common methods of preparing noodles are Chow Mein and Lo Mein. When ingredients are stir fried and served over noodles it is Chow Mein. In Lo Mein the boiled noodles are stir fried in the wok and other ingredients mixed into it. This allows the noodles to soak up all the flavours. Having an iron wok is a good investment as noodles made in an iron wok somehow tastes better than the non stick Karahi (cooking pot).
I always add a lot of vegetables to the noodles and that makes it more tastier. It is also the best way to get the children to eat the veggies. The sauce the noodles are stir fried in should be subtle to the tongue but at the same time have a wonderful flavour. It is extremely important how the vegetables are cut. It should be long and as thin as possible like the noodles and see how the children will love it. More the vegetables, the preparation becomes that much healthier for the kids.
Ingredients
- Noodles of choice - 1 packet
- Chicken Boneless - 1 breast piece
- Bacon strips - 2 - 3
- Carrots - 2 -3 long ones
- Cabbage - 1 Medium size
- Yellow Pepper - 1
- Red Pepper - 1
- Green Pepper - 1
- French Beans - 150 gms
- Mushroom - 150gms
- Celery Stalk - 1
- White Onion big size - 1
- Spring Onion - 6 - 8 sprigs
- Garlic big size - 3 - 4 gloves
- Light Soy Sauce - 1 1/2 table spoon
- Dark Soy Sauce - 1/2 table spoon
- Chinese Cooking Sauce/ wine - 2 table spoon
- Corn flower - 2 - 3 tablespoon
- Eggs - 2
- Vegetable Oil
- Salt to taste
Noodles are tasty when served hot, hence the sequencing of the preparation is very important. If the noodles are left to drain for long, it will become dry or if the stir fried veggies are left for long, it will become soggy and loose its crunchiness. Hence time the preparation so that it all fits in like a jigsaw puzzle. The most tedious step is cutting the vegetable, so do that first. Cut all the vegetables lengthwise and keep it separately. Then cut the chicken into strips and mix the same with cornflour so that it becomes crisp when fried. Cut the bacon strips into tiny pieces.
Now the cooking. Take a pot and boil water in it. Add salt and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to it. Now add the noodles. Do not break it, just leave it into the pot and the length will fold itself into the pot. It will take about 8 to 10 minutes for the noodles to cook. Place the wok on the stove and pour oil into it and get it real hot. Now add the vegetables one by one into the wok except for the onion and spring onion. Once all the vegetables are added put some sea salt into the mix and take it off the fire. The noodle should be ready by now, take it out and put it under running water. Once it is cool put the noodles into a strainer and allow it it to drain out. Whisk the eggs and make a thin omelette. Cut it into thin long strips. Come back to the wok and pour oil into it. Once it is hot crush the garlic and put it into oil followed by sliced onion. Once the onions become translucent add the bacon and let it blend in. Now pour the soy sauces and the cooking wine and a tablespoon of sugar into the wok. Add the chicken now and fry the same till it becomes crisp. Now add a layer of noodles followed by the veggies and then cover it with the balance of noodles. Keep tossing it till the noodles are soft. Add oil if necessary and if the mix is becoming dry add some water. Now put the cut spring onions and the omelette pieces into it and give it a last toss. The fried noodles are ready. Add 5 ladles of love and serve it.
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