Longevity Noodles have long been a part of Chinese banquets, serving as a symbol of longevity and prosperity. They’re frequently served at weddings, birthdays and Lunar New Year.

Associating fresh noodles with both prosperous shiitake mushrooms (good fortune) and vibrant Napa cabbage (longevity) results in an array of contrasting textures, making this easy yet flavorful dish! Plus, with only 5 ingredients needed and quick cooking times required.

Ingredients

Longevity noodles are a classic Chinese dish and an integral component of many banquets, believed to bring long life. As such, they’re often served at special events such as Lunar New Year and birthday celebrations, or taken out because they can be prepared quickly. Take out delivery is another popular form of Longevity Noodle preparation; but this version made at home uses less oil compared to its traditional version and should make for a delicious addition to any dinner rotation! This dish’s simple preparation should become part of it’s regular rotation!

This dish centers around its noodles. Traditional yi mein noodles feature an exquisite texture created from being deep-fried and then infusing them with alkaline water, creating an irregular chewiness similar to regular egg noodles, adding longevity benefits! They pair nicely with cabbage, mushrooms and other vegetables that offer umami (savory taste that gives food its richness), plus ginger-soy-cornstarch sauce which offers flavor while the final touch consists of adding green parts from chives as a symbol of longevity!

Add chicken strips, ginger, 1 teaspoon of rice wine and cornstarch to a bowl; set aside. Preheat a wok or heavy skillet over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes in one to two seconds; swirl in peanut oil, add red pepper flakes until fragrant (about five seconds) then add chicken; continue stirring constantly for one or two minutes, until chicken has just turned golden-brown and cooked through (one or two minutes). Transfer chicken to another bowl then reheat wok before stirring in remaining tablespoon peanut oil before stirring in soy sauce-rice wine mixture plus chicken-vegetable mix and scallions before mixing everything into an even thin sauce; serve immediately!

Fresh Chinese noodles such as yi mein are an ideal choice, typically found in the refrigerator section of Asian food markets and packaged with instructions for boiling them. If desired, dried lo mein noodles may also work; their thicker and stickier textures have similar benefits while being significantly cheaper than their fresh counterparts.

Preparation

Longevity Noodles (Yi Mian) are a traditional dish served at birthdays, weddings and Chinese New Year to wish good health and prosperity to loved ones. The long, unbroken strands represent longevity while when prepared with shiitake mushrooms for added auspiciousness. Yi Mein’s pre-fried nature gives it its characteristic golden-brown color and soft sponginess which allows it to absorb flavorful sauces quickly – this noodles also symbolize wealth within Chinese culture!

Yi mein can be found at many Asian grocery stores and is sometimes sold under the name “E-fu Noodles.” It’s also popular in some restaurants; if you can’t find any, make your own from scratch! Yi Mein consists of wheat-based egg noodles similar to lo mein but with larger pieces and an altered texture; its price may also differ; nonetheless it is well worth its additional expense!

Prepare the noodles according to package directions, being careful not to overcook them. Drain and rinse in cold water after draining to stop cooking and remove excess starch from the noodles. Return them to their original pot before stirring in 1 teaspoon of sesame oil – set aside.

Mix together vegan oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, mirin and white pepper in a small bowl until combined. Set the sauce aside. Next, heat up a wok or large skillet on high heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil; when shimmering add shallots and garlic and stir fry for one or two minutes before stirring in shiitake mushrooms and half the scallions for another minute or two of stir frying before setting the skillet off of its heat source and continuing.

Pour in Shaoxing wine and 2 tablespoons of mushroom soaking water to deglaze the pan. Once deglazed, add chicken, toss together until evenly distributed, add remaining scallions, cabbage, and Napa squash; cook for one or two more minutes before tossing in sauce mixture and noodles and cooking until the noodles are coated in sauce and all vegetables have become tender.

Garnish the dish with scallions and serve immediately. Note that longer scallion will intensify the flavor of your dish; for milder versions use only one to three.

Cooking

Longevity noodles (or Chinese birthday noodles), are a traditional food served during Chinese New Year and other celebrations such as birthdays. As a symbol of longevity and eating as part of one long strand (representing a long life), longevity noodles must never be cut or broken before being consumed (to symbolize this idea of eating the noodle whole and in one piece!). They’re frequently given alongside other signs of good fortune like whole steamed fish, ketchup shrimp or wonton dumplings as tokens of good fortune or prosperity!

This recipe uses prefried noodles made from wheat flour and eggs, mushrooms, Chinese garlic chives and vegetables until they reach tenderness – creating an easy but flavorful dish! This simple but flavorful dish can be completed quickly.

To prepare noodles, bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat and boil the noodles for 3 to 5 minutes before draining and rinsing with cold water to cool them and avoid over-cooking when braised.

While the noodles are cooking, make the sauce by whisking all of its components. Adjust sugar amounts according to taste; adjust quantities of dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, grated ginger and pepper for your preferred combination.

Once the noodles have been cooked, add them to the sauce and mix thoroughly. Feel free to customize your dish by adding mushrooms and chive pieces as desired and increasing garlic as needed – before taking out of the wok and serving!

This dish makes a delicious family meal or party centerpiece, with easy preparation that lasts up to one week in an airtight container in the fridge. Plus, you get to experiment with different vegetables like bell peppers, carrots and bok choy – making this recipe both nutritious and versatile!

This delicious vegetarian and vegan recipe offers great flavor and protein content, perfect for meal planning! For added crunch and color, consider including some baby bok choy, green peas or fresh snow peas in this dish. The baby bok choy will add crunch while other vegetables provide color.

Serving

Longevity noodles are eaten during special celebrations in Chinese culture such as Lunar New Year, birthdays and anniversaries to symbolize longevity. This dish is usually served in large portions and it’s customary to hold one in your hand while eating so as to have longevity for life – this food item can often be found at banquets and can provide quite the filling experience!

Ingredients can all be prepared in one large pot and the noodles cooked according to package directions. While the noodles cook, broth and vegetables simmer together while being added as needed while draining and setting aside. Once done, sauce and vegetables can then be added over them before stirring all together into one delicious dish that can be ready to be enjoyed immediately!

When you’re craving something warm and comforting, this quick and easy dinner recipe makes an excellent solution. The noodles have an irresistibly satisfying chew, while ginger, mushrooms and cabbage add delicious flavor. Plus it contains essential nutrients like folic acid, fiber, protein and iron — plus its low in calories!

Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot and boil the noodles according to package directions, drain and rinse them once done. Next, combine chicken stock and other ingredients in another pot over medium-high heat, cooking until vegetables and ginger are tender but still retain some crunchiness; add the bok choy and simmer for 5-6 minutes until tender before taking it off the heat and setting it aside.

Heat the remaining oil in a wok until hot. When ready, add garlic and stir fry for one minute before adding the shiitake mushrooms for several more minutes until tender. Finally, stir in scalions, cooked chicken and cooked noodles as well as the red chile pepper flakes before stirring together for best results.