Making noodles in a wok

chinese-cuisinenoodles

What is the best way to make noodle dishes like lo mein in a wok? I am trying to get the best noodle texture and a taste close to the restaurants.

Best Answer

I am not really giving you a recipe, I am give you a technique.

There are two ways to make noodles, you either boil them and then use boiled noodles as an ingredient, or you put in just the right proportion of moisture to dry pasta so it finishes just right in a very similar manner to cooking rice.

If you want noodles that are full of the dish's flavor, then you want to do the second choice.

The noodles are most likely cooked in a chicken broth base or water, and spiced with some blend of powdered or fresh ginger, soy sauce (more when using water less when using broth), teriyaki or hoisin.

When cooking with angel hair (not the same as lo mein thickness and will behave differently), just about 6 cups of chicken broth will be absorbed fully by 1 lb of dry boxed angel hair pasta.

Just to make sure this is clear, the pasta would be the last ingredient added for this pasta base. Of course you can add other things to your broth first like your mushrooms, meat, shoots, onions/leeks, water chestnuts, whatever you like in your lo mien. Add the pasta, stir it and after it has absorbed most of the water but before it starts burning on the bottom start tossing it around the wok to give it that smoky stir fried taste and texture

Well if you like fresh spinach in your lo mien, you would actually add that last and stir it in until it's wilted just before serving.

Fresh pasta will NOT absorb anywhere near as much water so keep that in mind if you plan to make fresh pasta.

Have fun experimenting!