Biang Biang Noodles with Hot Oil Dressing 油泼面

AuthorYun Zhang JohnCategoryDifficultyBeginnerRating
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Yields2 Servings
Prep Time3 hrsCook Time5 minsTotal Time3 hrs 5 mins

You need only five simple ingredients for Biang Biang noodles.

1. All purpose flour
2. Water
3. Salt
4. Oil
5. Time

With them, anyone can make an authentic and scrumptious bowl of hand pulled, thick and wide wheat noodles at home.

What are Biang Biang Noodles?

Biang Biang noodles originated from Shaanxi province in China where noodles and wheat based dishes are regularly consumed. The noodles are made right before cooking by stretching out pieces of dough into strips of wide, belt width noodles. Also, the action of pulling the noodles involves slapping it against the table surface, hence the name “Biang Biang” which is imitates the sound that this action makes.

"Biang" also happens to be the most complex Chinese character to write. It takes 58 strokes to write it out in its traditional form. Which adds complicity to this rather simple dish.

A relatively obscure noodles dish, not well known outside of Shaanxi, has gain a cult like following on social media as of late. No doubt due to its name, its simplicity and its delicious taste.

How to make hand pulled noodles

For my Red Braised Beef Noodle Soup 牛肉手拉面 , I showed you a fool-proof way of making hand pulled noodles at home. The only difference with making Biang Biang noodles is its width. The method is the exact same, and it goes like this:

1. Mix up the dough, and leave it to rest for 10min so it’s easier to knead it smooth.
2. Divide the smoothened dough into smaller pieces (5) and roll them into cylinders.
3. Cover each piece completely with oil and leave it to relax in an air tight container at room temperature 4. for minimum two hours.
5. When you are ready to eat, take one piece at a time, flatten and start pulling while slapping it against the table surface.

The way this works is that by allowing the dough to sufficiently rest, the gluten within develops and strengthened, making it malleable with little effort. As well, the oil plays a critical role in that it keeps the dough from drying out as it rests and it acts as a lubricant during the pulling process.

The Hot oil dressing and toppings

While you can eat Biang Biang noodles in soups or stir fried, the easiest and best way to enjoy these thick, wide hand pulled noodles is with a flash fried, hot chilli oil dressing. Called You Po Mian 油泼面, it is simple and delicious.

Just top the cooked noodles with lots of chopped/minced garlic, green onions, chilli powder (choose a less spicy variety because we are after fragrance, not heat) and white sesame seeds. Of course, adjust the amount to your taste, but be quite generous as it is the fragrance these aromatics give out as the hot oil hits them that brings out the soul of this dish.

Season with good amount of soy sauce and Chinese black vinegar and the dish will taste amazing.

Pro move

If you want to make it even better, make a tomato and egg topping. This classic and comforting stir fry dish is the perfect compliment to Biang Biang noodles aka. You Po Mian. The eggs adds protein and richness and the tomatoes, another dimension of tartness in addition to the vinegar.

So go give this a go, you'll be amazed at the results and how easy it is to achieve it!

You Will Need

Noodle dough
 250 g All purpose flourThis amount makes 2 servings
 125 g Water
 ¼ tsp Salt
 Neutral oil
Dressing per bowl of noodles
 1 tsp Chilli powder*not too spicy, adjust to taste
 1 tsp White sesame seedsadjust to taste
 1 tbsp Chopped/minced garlicadjust to taste
 1 Chopped green onionadjust to taste
 ½ tsp Sichuan peppercorn powderoptional
 2 tbsp Oil, heated up until smoking upadjust to taste
 1.50 tbsp Light soy sauceadjust to taste
 1.50 tbsp Chinese black vinegaradjust to taste
Tomato and egg topping (optional)
 1 Tomato
 1 tsp Ketchup
 1 Egg
 2 tsp OilDivided
 2 tbsp Water
  tsp Saltadjust to taste

Instructions

Making noodle dough - few hours before you want to eat
1

Combine water, flour and salt in a mixing bowl and knead until you have a single ball of dough. Cover with plastic wrap and leave it to rest for 10min.

2

Come back after 10min and knead it smooth. Then divide into 5 pieces. Roll each piece into a cylinder Then get a dish with a lid, spread oil on the bottom, put the rolls in and spread more oil on top. Make sure that each piece is completely covered with oil.

3

Close the lid and let the dough rest for a minimum of 2 hours.

Topping
4

Beat up an egg with some salt and scramble in some oil. Take it out and to the same pan, add more oil and toss in the diced fresh tomato and season with some salt. Stir fry to breakdown the tomato.

5

Add ketchup and a water to make a sauce, cook for a minute to thicken. Then add the eggs back in and mix to combine. Cook for another 30sec and shut off the heat. Set aside for later.

Noodle pulling
6

Take out the rested dough one at a time. Flatten with the palm of your hand and then roll it out into a long oval. Using the rolling pin, make a indentation in the centre of the oval lengthwise.

7

Start pulling with both hands while at the same time banging the centre of the noodle on the table surface. Do this until you can’t stretch any more and ripe the noodle down the centre here you have creased it. You’ll end up with one VERY long noodle or 2 long-is noodles. Repeat with another piece.

Cooking
8

Drop the noodles one by one into boiling water and stir to prevent sticking. It should take 1-2min to cook through depending on the thickness of your noodles.

9

Toss in any greens if desired 30sec before the noodles are done. Fish them out of the water and into a bowl.

10

Heat up some oil while top the cooked noodles with the minced/chopped garlic, green onions, red chilli flakes, while sesame seeds, sichuan peppercorn powder. Pour the oil over top all these ingredients when it's heated to a smoking point.

11

Season with soy sauce and chinese black vinegar and top with our tomato and egg topping. Mix it up and enjoy immediately!

Ingredients

Noodle dough
 250 g All purpose flourThis amount makes 2 servings
 125 g Water
 ¼ tsp Salt
 Neutral oil
Dressing per bowl of noodles
 1 tsp Chilli powder*not too spicy, adjust to taste
 1 tsp White sesame seedsadjust to taste
 1 tbsp Chopped/minced garlicadjust to taste
 1 Chopped green onionadjust to taste
 ½ tsp Sichuan peppercorn powderoptional
 2 tbsp Oil, heated up until smoking upadjust to taste
 1.50 tbsp Light soy sauceadjust to taste
 1.50 tbsp Chinese black vinegaradjust to taste
Tomato and egg topping (optional)
 1 Tomato
 1 tsp Ketchup
 1 Egg
 2 tsp OilDivided
 2 tbsp Water
  tsp Saltadjust to taste

Directions

Making noodle dough - few hours before you want to eat
1

Combine water, flour and salt in a mixing bowl and knead until you have a single ball of dough. Cover with plastic wrap and leave it to rest for 10min.

2

Come back after 10min and knead it smooth. Then divide into 5 pieces. Roll each piece into a cylinder Then get a dish with a lid, spread oil on the bottom, put the rolls in and spread more oil on top. Make sure that each piece is completely covered with oil.

3

Close the lid and let the dough rest for a minimum of 2 hours.

Topping
4

Beat up an egg with some salt and scramble in some oil. Take it out and to the same pan, add more oil and toss in the diced fresh tomato and season with some salt. Stir fry to breakdown the tomato.

5

Add ketchup and a water to make a sauce, cook for a minute to thicken. Then add the eggs back in and mix to combine. Cook for another 30sec and shut off the heat. Set aside for later.

Noodle pulling
6

Take out the rested dough one at a time. Flatten with the palm of your hand and then roll it out into a long oval. Using the rolling pin, make a indentation in the centre of the oval lengthwise.

7

Start pulling with both hands while at the same time banging the centre of the noodle on the table surface. Do this until you can’t stretch any more and ripe the noodle down the centre here you have creased it. You’ll end up with one VERY long noodle or 2 long-is noodles. Repeat with another piece.

Cooking
8

Drop the noodles one by one into boiling water and stir to prevent sticking. It should take 1-2min to cook through depending on the thickness of your noodles.

9

Toss in any greens if desired 30sec before the noodles are done. Fish them out of the water and into a bowl.

10

Heat up some oil while top the cooked noodles with the minced/chopped garlic, green onions, red chilli flakes, while sesame seeds, sichuan peppercorn powder. Pour the oil over top all these ingredients when it's heated to a smoking point.

11

Season with soy sauce and chinese black vinegar and top with our tomato and egg topping. Mix it up and enjoy immediately!

Biang Biang Noodles with Hot Oil Dressing 油泼面

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