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Ma you mian xian
Sesame oil ginger vermicelli
Ma you mian xian: Taiwanese misua tossed with ginger fried in black sesame oil
Ma you mian xian is a warming Taiwanese home bowl, cooked on chilly evenings across the island and famously fed to new mothers to restore their strength. Fine wheat noodles called mian xian (misua) are tossed with plenty of ginger fried slowly in dark, nutty black sesame oil and seasoned with a little soy. Many families add a splash of rice wine; this version leaves it out. The common mistake is frying the ginger in hot sesame oil, which turns bitter fast; keep the heat low and let the ginger curl and brown gently. Chef's tip: misua is salty already, so rinse it briefly after boiling and taste before adding any extra soy.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz gingercut into thin slices
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 spring onion (optional)finely sliced
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Boil a kettle and pour the water into a pan over a high heat.
2 minStep 2: Warm 3 tbsp black or dark toasted sesame oil in a wok over a low heat, add 1 ⅜ oz ginger and fry gently for 4–5 minutes, until the edges curl and turn golden brown but not dark.
5 minStep 3: Meanwhile cook 5 ½ oz dried misua (mian xian) noodles in the boiling water for 1–2 minutes, until soft. Drain, rinse briefly under warm water and drain well.
2 minStep 4: Stir 1 tbsp light soy sauce and ½ tsp sugar into the ginger oil, add the noodles and toss on a low heat for 30 seconds until coated and glossy. Top with 1 spring onion and eat hot.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 55 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ma you mian xian take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 7 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of black or dark toasted sesame oil?
- Toasted sesame seeds ground with a little vegetable oil.
- What can I use instead of light soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
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