Here’s a recipe for making hand-pulled noodles, also known as La Mian or Lanzhou Noodles:
Ingredients:
- 300g all-purpose flour
- 1.5g salt
- 155g water, room temperature
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the water, mixing with your hands until a shaggy dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add a little more water; if it’s too wet, add a little more flour.
- Knead the dough: Knead the dough for 10-15 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. The dough should not be sticky. If it is, add a little more flour.
- Rest the dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. This will help to relax the gluten and make the dough easier to work with.
- Divide the dough: Divide the dough into three equal pieces. Cover two of the pieces with plastic wrap while you work with the third piece.
- Roll out the dough: Roll out the third piece of dough into a long, thin rectangle, about 1/8-inch thick.
- Fold and stretch the dough: Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise, then fold it in half again. Press down on the dough to flatten it slightly.
- Pull the dough: Grab the two ends of the dough and pull them apart gently, stretching the dough until it is thin and translucent. If the dough tears, fold it back together and repeat the stretching process.
- Fold and cut the noodles: Fold the stretched dough in half lengthwise, then cut it into 1/4-inch wide strips.
- Repeat with remaining dough: Repeat steps 4-8 with the remaining two pieces of dough.
- Cook the noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until they are al dente.
- Drain and serve: Drain the noodles and toss them with your favorite sauce or ingredients. Enjoy!
Tips:
- For a more flavorful dough, you can add a pinch of baking soda or a teaspoon of soy sauce.
- If you don’t have time to make the dough from scratch, you can use store-bought pasta dough. Just make sure to roll it out thinly before pulling the noodles.
- Hand-pulled noodles are best when eaten fresh, but they can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, simply cook them in boiling water for a minute or two.
I hope you enjoy this recipe for hand-pulled noodles!
