Bored with the usual fare that is served by hawkers stalls and noodle eateries? Well, this dish is sure to revive your appetite for noodles. This dish is none other than La Mian! An authentic Chinese noodle that is bouncy and yet solid at the same time.
La Mian is considered as an important part of Chinese food culture, Chefs from China usually make it by hand and do not contain any additives or preservatives. This noodle is both healthy and is sure to be an unforgettable culinary experience. This bowl of la mian is sure to win the hearts of Malaysians as the dish is versatile and can be modified to suit one’s taste.
What is La Mian?
La Mian translated into English is called “Pulled Noodles”, the noodles are handmade by twisting, stretching and folding the dough strands into the desired length pieces though the typical size in Malaysia consists of thick, medium and thin.
The process of making La Mian can usually be seen via a look-through mirror at restaurants or vendors looking into the restaurants’ kitchens. The process of cutting and folding these noodles from dough can sometimes be deemed as a performance and entertainment where customers or passerby’s glance through the mirror and are in awe.
The hand-pulled noodles are mixed with soup and meat after being make into the desired thickness and length.
History of La Mian
La Mian originated from the city of Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, in China’s North West region. Its population has Islamic roots with the largest ethnic groups known as Hui Muslim. Due to the region’s position at the border of China, they are sometimes considered as the minority out of China’s overall population. But still, this does not stop La Mian’s popularity from spreading throughout the entire region of China.
The popularity of the dish is not only limited in China but has spread all across the globe. The dish has even made its way across Southeast Asia, with variations and changes made to the dish as each country chef’s adapt it to their own cooking styles and local palate. The finished dish is a plain white noodle in a clear soup, topped with sliced meat. Simple, indeed.
How to make La Mian
Here is a simple recipe on how to make your own la mian:
- The noodles cooked in boiling water until it is tender. Once cooked, set it aside to be used for later.
- Place the meat and boil it in water for 2 minutes.
- Mixed all the spices and vegetables such as carrots, daikon radish, ginger, onions, star anise, cassia bark and black peppercorns.
- Mixed the spices with the meat and boil it for 2-3 hours.
- Add cumin, turmeric and soy sauce.
- Season with salt until it is sufficiently tasty.
- Add the cooked noodles into the bowl.
- Add a dash of black vinegar and red chilli flakes.
- Mix well, and your La Mian is ready to serve.
Do note this is just a simple walk through on the steps on making this dish. More detailed guidelines and instructions can be found online.
Nutrition Fact Sheet
Fitness aficionados look over here. We understand how foodie like you often find it hard to balance a healthy diet with addictive food all over Malaysia. So here is a fact sheet tailored just for you.
An 80g serving size of La Mian:
|
Calorie |
272 |
|
Carbs |
43g |
|
Fat |
7g |
|
Protein |
6g |
Where to find La Mian in Malaysia
La Mian is famous dish that can be found in almost every noodle shop. So, we have picked out some locations for you to give it a try! Paradise Dynasty (Paradigm Mall) is recommended, and you can find more at Restoran Dong Bei (Bukit Bintang). Discover more Chinese cuisine on foodpanda!
