Shaanxi Youpo Noodles
Shaanxi Youpo Noodles is a home-style staple dish at difficulty 2/5 (Easy). This traditional Northwest noodle dish is famous for its chewy 'lifted' noodles. Ingredients and step-by-step instructions are below, with notes for home cooking.
2 / 5
★★☆☆☆
Ingredients
- Fresh noodles (Lifted noodles/Chewy long noodles are best)
- Salt
- Scallions
- Garlic
- Chili powder (or Qinqiao powder)
- Cooking oil
- Light soy sauce
- Aromatic vinegar
- Green vegetables (rapeseed or spinach)
- Pot
Steps
- ### Preparing Ingredients
- If using lifted noodles (chewy noodles), use a rolling pin (or your hands) to slightly press the top and bottom, then pull gently with both hands from the ends to stretch the dough.
- Chop the scallions into chopped scallion greens and the garlic into minced garlic, set aside.
- Wash the green vegetables and bean sprouts (if using).
- ### Boiling Noodles and Seasoning
- Add enough clear water to the pot and bring to a boil over high heat, then add 1g of salt.
- Put in the noodles, stir gently with chopsticks to prevent sticking, and cook until the noodles float, then cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- 1 minute before the noodles are finished, blanch the green vegetables and bean sprouts.
- Remove the cooked noodles, green vegetables, and bean sprouts, drain the water, and place them in a bowl.
- Arrange the soy sauce, vinegar, chopped scallions, minced garlic, and chili powder on the noodles (you can also add some sesame).
- ### Pouring the Oil
- In a frying pan, pour in the cooking oil, add Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves (if used), and fry over low heat until fragrant, then remove the spices.
- When the oil temperature rises to 70% (just starting to smoke), quickly and evenly pour it over the chili powder in the bowl. You should hear a "sizzling" sound.
- Mix thoroughly with chopsticks and serve.
Notes
This traditional Northwest noodle dish is famous for its chewy 'lifted' noodles and the aromatic spicy flavor released by hot oil. It is a daily staple in Shaanxi households. Noodles are rich in carbohydrates, and paired with green vegetables and bean sprouts, they provide a balanced nutritional intake. The process is simple and clear, very beginner-friendly, taking about 30 minutes from prep to finish.
**Estimated Cooking Difficulty:** ★★
**Estimated Calories:** 771 kcal
**Group:** Shaanxi Youpo Noodles
**Calculations:**
Men usually need 4 bundles, women 3 bundles; you can increase the amount if large appetites.
- Salt: 2g
- Scallion: 1 piece
- Garlic: 3 cloves
- Chili powder: 15g
- Cooking oil: 50ml
- Light soy sauce: 10ml
- Aromatic vinegar: 5ml
- Green vegetables: 50g
- Bean sprouts: 50g (Optional)
- **Technical Summary:**
- The choice of chili powder is crucial; it is recommended to use Shaanxi Qinqiao powder, which is fragrant but not overly spicy. One of Shaanxi's Eight Weird Customs: Oil-poured chili is a dish on its own 😂;
- The oil temperature is the key to success: if too low the chili won't be fragrant; if too high it might burn.
- If you like meat, add minced meat to make Meat Sotiao Youpo Noodles.
- Traditional Shaanxi Youpo Noodles emphasize "One Green, Two White, Three Red, Four Green" (literally: one green [greens], two white [noodles], three red [chili/soysauce], four green [garlic/scallions]), referring to the color arrangement.