Who doesn’t love a bowl of steaming hot noodles that warms your body up from the inside during the winter? Or some cold soba to cool you down from the summer heat that most definitely feels like a sauna? There’s nothing better than the versatility of noodles.
Noodles are a very diverse section of food. There are all different shapes, sizes, colors, and ways to eat them. Here is a guide to some of the most popular and unique noodles of China:
凉皮 (Liang Pi)
Originating from 陕西 (Shan Xi), 凉皮 is a cold noodle that is made out of just flour, water, and salt. Typically, the sauce of dishes containing 凉皮 consists of garlic, sesame oil, chili paste, and some sort of vinegar. But of course, you can add whatever you like on top.
拉面 (La Mian)
The making of 拉面 is a loud one. The chef has to alternate between banging the dough, folding, stretching it on a flat surface until long, thin, chewy noodles are formed. The more you fold, the smaller and thinner the noodles are. A popular flavor of this dish is 牛肉拉面, which is beef flavored la mian.
炸酱面（Zha Jiang Mian)
炸酱面, or “noodles with soybean paste”, is exactly what it sounds like. The noodles are made out of wheat, and the sauce is a mixture of soybean paste and some type of meat (usually it’s pork). It is a simple dish that can be eaten as just noodles and sauce, but you can also add cucumbers or other vegetables. I personally love how chewy these noodles are.
捞面 (Lo Mein)
You probably have already heard of these noodles before. They are very popular at Chinese take out restaurants here in the United States. 捞面 has a long history, having been around in China for about 2000 years, going as far back as the Han Dynasty. It is made with wheat flour and eggs. It is typically stir fried with all sorts of different vegetables and meats for a delicious dish.
Sources:
http://www.sh-streetfood.org/liangpi-cold-jelly-noodles-凉皮/
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/chinese-noodle-types-explained
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhajiangmian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo_mein
https://sites.psu.edu/mabramovitzpassion/2017/01/27/lo-mein/
Being a noodle fanatic- I was naturally drawn to your article! I personally love each and every mouth-watering noodle dish listed. Personally I most enjoy 拉面 and 炸酱面, I’m a sucker for savory and rich dishes. Be it cold noodles or hot soup, I agree with that fact that noodles are very diverse, yet always enjoyable. Good job!