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This easy, comforting Chinese noodle dish is traditionally served on special occasions, including birthdays and Chinese New Year. The noodles are dressed with a simple combination of garlic, sesame oil, salt and soy sauce.

From the book

Introduction

This is a very traditional dish served and eaten on special occasions such as Chinese New Year and, in particular, birthdays. The dish would typically be made for someone to wish them a long life. Noodle makers have to be very skilled to produce very fine noodles without breaking them and it is much harder than making thick udon noodles.

In Beijing, Ken and I requested some noodle chefs make thin mian-sien noodles and they made a bowl quicker than it takes to cook a packet of instant noodles! (You can buy packets of dried, thin, longevity wheat flour noodles. All you need to do is cook them in boiling water for less than 2 minutes and toss sesame oil through them to prevent them from sticking.)

I dressed the noodles they made with the ingredients with which we would traditionally serve the dish – garlic, salt, light soy and toasted sesame oil. Simple, but comforting, a reminder of home.

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Ingredients

500g (1lb 2oz) cooked thin wheat flour noodles (225g/8oz dried weight)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
A pinch of salt

Method

Toss the noodles with the garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil. Season with a pinch of salt and mix well, without breaking the noodles. Eat immediately.

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