Noodles with Chinese Gravy | 打卤面

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Gravy:

  • Small handful of dried wood ear
  • 2 1/8 cups water, divided
  • 2 tablespoons oil, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt + sprinkling for eggs
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1 Chinese eggplant
  • 1/2 english cucumber
  • 6 mushrooms
  • 4 oz tofu (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon black vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 green onions
  • 1/3 cup cilantro

Noodles:

  • Store-bought  Chinese flat noodles

Or

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup water

Serve with:

  • Raw garlic
  • Salted duck egg

Gravy:

Reconstitute wood ear in 1 cup of hot water. Set aside. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in wok over medium-high heat. Beat eggs with small sprinkle of salt. Cook eggs omelet-style and remove when still slightly under-cooked. 

Chop up all veggies, including tofu if using. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in clean wok over high heat. Add all veggies and stir-fry. When veggies begin to soften, add wood ear with water that it was soaking in, soy sauces, vinegar, and additional cup of water. Reduce heat to medium and cook down for about ten minutes. Add more water if needed. 

Meanwhile, mix cornstarch with 1/8 cup water. Once veggies completely cook down, add cornstarch mixture and eggs. Bring to a boil and then quickly remove from heat. Season with salt and top with green onions and cilantro. Serve over noodles--store-bought or homemade.

Homemade noodles:

Mix together flour and water in bowl. Knead until firm dough forms, adding more flour if needed. Rest for 15 minutes in cool place. Working with small piece of dough at a time, roll out into long strip. Dust frequently with flour. Fold strip over itself and cut thin lines with a sharp knife. Shake out into noodle pieces and dust with more flour. Repeat with rest of dough. 

Heat pot of water until boiling. Drop in noodles briefly until cooked and then drain. Serve topped with gravy, and side of garlic and duck egg. 

Did any part of this recipe confuse you? For detailed instructions, click here.