23 Noodle Dishes to Celebrate Lunar New Year
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Celebrate Chinese New Year with these noodle recipes. Noodles symbolize longevity, which is why they’re served at Lunar New Year. We’ve pulled together a mix of authentic and Chinese-inspired noodle recipes like Lo Mein and Dan Dan Noodles.
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One of my dearest friends is Malaysian Chinese, a former neighbor, a beautiful person, and one of the best cooks I know. Her food is stunningly delicious, and I thank her for introducing me to some of the dishes that will forever occupy my dreams.
Truly, the complexity of the flavors is like nothing else on earth.
Celebrating Lunar New Year with Noodles
As the Lunar New Year approaches, also known as the Spring Festival in China, an array of delicious noodle dishes will hold special significance during this 15-day celebration.
One must-have noodle recipe for Lunar New Year celebrations is the classic Chinese longevity noodles, also known as “Changzhou mian.” These long, uncut noodles symbolize longevity and are often served during festive occasions to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
They are typically stir-fried with vibrant vegetables and succulent meats; longevity noodles are a delightful addition to any Lunar New Year feast, promising a year filled with happiness and abundance.
Another significant noodle recipe during Lunar New Year celebrations is the Korean dish “tteokguk.” This traditional rice cake soup features chewy rice cakes simmered in a flavorful broth, symbolizing the passage from one year to the next.
In Korean culture, eating tteokguk during Lunar New Year is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity, as it represents gaining a year in age and wisdom.
Chinese New Year Noodle Recipes
Long Life Noodles - Yi Mein
Long Life Noodles (yī miàn, 伊面) or yi mein, symbolize longevity and can always be found on the banquet table at Chinese celebrations.
Longevity Noodles
Eileen Yin-Fei Lo’s Longevity Noodles pair light, umami-seasoned lo mein noodles with crunchy snow peas and water chestnuts.
Perfect Chinese Noodles {Lo Mein}
"Make a better than takeout version of Classic Chinese Lo Mein with authentic ingredients that can be thrown together" in about 15 minutes!
Easy Lo Mein
"The easiest lo mein you will ever make in 15 minutes from start to finish. It is so much quicker, tastier and healthier than take-out!"
Long-Life Noodles with Beef & Chinese Broccoli
Noodles are a key part of Chinese New Year celebrations because they symbolize long life. We love this recipe for the tradition because it’s super-customizable based on your tastes. Try swapping in chicken for the steak. Can’t find Chinese broccoli? Use broccolini instead. Or swap out the mushrooms and broccoli altogether for snow peas and carrots.
Lo Mein Noodles
"Slippery Lo Mein Noodles tossed in a Lo Mein Sauce with tons of veggies and protein of your choice. This takeout mainstay comes down to the right sauce and the right noodles – then you’re just 6 minutes away from noodle heaven!"
Penang Fried Flat Noodles - Char Kuey Teow
"Authentic Penang Char Kuey Teow with step-by-step recipe guide. Char Kuey Teow is a famous Penang hawker food. The best Char Kuey Teow recipe on the web."
Beef Pan-Fried Noodles
"Turn your kitchen into a Chinese restaurant by making crispy pan fried noodles with juicy beef in a rich and savory sauce that tastes too good to be true!"
Chow Mein (Chinese Fried Noodles)
"A complete guide on cooking Chinese chow mein at home. It includes noodle choices, protein and veggie options, an easy tasty sauce and essential stir-frying tips."
Tofu Chow Fun With Watercress
"Vegetarians are going to love this recipe! This is a simple Cantonese chow fun stir fry with tofu and watercress. There is nothing more satisfying than a big bowl of pan-fried noodles coated with soy sauce and packed with umami flavors."
Long Life Longevity Noodles with Chicken and Mushrooms
These Long Life Noodles are a quick and easy, incredibly delicious, traditional dish you’ll love to serve for Chinese New Year. Tender noodles are stir-fried in a simple sauce along with chicken, savory mushrooms, fresh ginger, and scallions.
Ginger Pork Noodles with Bok Choy
Inspired by ma yi shang shu, a classic Sichuan dish, these Ginger Pork Noodles with Bok Choy is an unfussy, flexible pantry friendly dish. Perfect for weeknight dinners or easy weekend food. Much like your favorite Chinese takeout food, this easy recipe will satisfy those cravings!
Easy Chinese Fried Noodles
"These fried noodles are a quick, easy, and delicious recipe that all will enjoy. Try adding cooked, cubed pork or chicken. Bean sprouts, water chestnuts, sliced almonds, or any of your favorite vegetables can also be added to this versatile recipe."
Curried Singapore Noodles
These easy yet delicious Vegan Curried Singapore Noodles is a quick noodle dish packed with vegetables and spice. Made with rice noodles and your favorite curry powder these simple Singapore Noodles are ready in under 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights!
Slow Cooker Pork Lo Mein
The term lo mein comes from the Cantonese 撈麵, meaning "stirred noodles" and is an authentic Chinese dish. The slow cooker makes it exceedingly easy and delicious with vegetables and a simple stir-fry sauce made from store cupboard ingredients.
Singapore-Style Noodles: Curry Noodles with Pork or Chicken
Singapore-style noodles are a favorite take-out in Chinese-American restaurants and are traditionally made using leftover Cantonese roast pork.
Dan Dan Noodles: Authentic Sichuan Recipe
"A Dan Dan Noodles recipe that's tried, true, and authentic. With this recipe, you can try out this spicy, numbing Sichuan classic at home!"
Vietnamese Pho recipe
"Experience the magic of one of the greatest noodle soups in the world with this easy to follow traditional Vietnamese Pho recipe! Made from scratch with the signature broth that’s light yet at the same time so full of flavour, it’s infused with spices like cinnamon, star anise and cardamom."
Zha Jiang Mian (Fried Sauce Noodles, 炸酱面)
Chewy noodles served with an irresistible pork sauce and crunchy vegetable toppings, Zha Jiang Mian is a signature Beijing dish that’s perfect for weekday dinners.
Yakisoba with Pork and Cabbage
Yakisoba, a classic Japanese stir fry street food, is a perfect way to use leftovers. A quick and easy meal, Yakisoba is often made with thinly sliced pork strips (although chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu is equally delicious) with noodles and a yakisoba stir fry sauce!
Chicken Chow Mein
"We make this delicious chicken chow mein recipe with real Chinese chow mein noodles crunchy vegetables, and lots of juicy chicken."
Pad Thai
"This is a Pad Thai recipe that truly stacks up to great Thai restaurants yet is totally doable for every home cook with just a trip to your every day grocery store. With the slippery noodles, signature sweet-savoury flavour, sprinkle of peanuts and tang from lime, this is a Thai food favourite for good reason!"
Hakka Noodles Recipe - Swasthi's Recipes
"A popular Indo-Chinese dish of stir-fried noodles, veggies and sauces. It is hugely popular in Indian restaurants and street stalls."
Traditional Asian Noodle Recipes
From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the vibrant markets of Bangkok, Asian cuisine offers an incredible array of noodle dishes that are as diverse as they are delicious. Here are 10 of the most popular Asian noodle recipes.
1. Japanese Ramen – This iconic noodle dish features chewy wheat noodles swimming in a rich, flavorful broth, topped with ingredients like sliced pork, soft-boiled eggs, and green onions.
2. Chinese Chow Mein – In China, these stir-fried noodles are often paired with a colorful medley of vegetables, meat, and seafood, all tossed in a deliciously savory sauce.
3. Thai Pad – Let’s move to the bustling streets of Bangkok, where pad Thai reigns as the undisputed king of Thai street food. This stir-fried noodle dish features thin rice noodles tossed with tofu, shrimp, bean sprouts, and peanuts, all coated in a sweet and tangy tamarind sauce. Bursting with flavor and texture, pad Thai is a must-try for any noodle enthusiast.
4. Vietnamese Pho – A personal favorite takes us to Vietnam for a steaming bowl of pho. This aromatic noodle soup features rice noodles swimming in a fragrant broth flavored with star anise, cinnamon, and cloves, topped with tender slices of beef or chicken, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lime.
5. Korean Japchae – Traveling to South Korea, we discover the delightful flavors of japchae. This sweet and savory noodle dish features glass noodles made from sweet potato starch, stir-fried with an assortment of vegetables, meat, and mushrooms.
6. Filipino Pancit Canton – In the Philippines, pancit canton takes center stage as a beloved noodle dish enjoyed during celebrations and gatherings. These stir-fried egg noodles are typically cooked with a colorful array of vegetables, meat, and shrimp, seasoned with soy sauce and calamansi juice for a burst of citrusy flavor.
7. Malaysian Char Kway Teow – This iconic Malaysian dish features flat rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, cockles, Chinese sausage, eggs, and bean sprouts, all seasoned with a spicy-sweet soy sauce. Served hot and fresh from the wok, char kway teow is a flavorful favorite among locals and visitors alike.
8. Indonesian Mie Goreng – This spicy fried noodle dish is packed with bold Indonesian flavors, including sweet soy sauce, chili, garlic, and shallots, all stir-fried with egg noodles and an assortment of meats and vegetables. Topped with a fried egg and crispy shallots, mie goreng is a deliciously satisfying meal that packs a punch.
9. Singaporean Laksa – Singapore is home to laksa, a fragrant noodle soup bursting with flavor and one of my all-time favorite Asian noodle dishes. This spicy and coconutty dish features thick rice noodles swimming in a creamy coconut milk broth, flavored with aromatic spices like lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric. Laksa is a comforting bowl of goodness that’s perfect for any occasion, topped with shrimp, tofu puffs, and hard-boiled eggs.
10. Indian Hakka Noodles – India offers a unique take on noodles with Hakka noodles. This Indo-Chinese fusion dish features stir-fried noodles tossed with colorful vegetables, eggs, and your choice of meat or tofu, seasoned with a flavorful blend of Indian and Chinese spices. Served hot and fresh from the wok, Hakka noodles are a popular street food snack enjoyed across India.