Make Your Own Noodles From Scratch At Home Using These Tips

It is a curious thing that Indians who love Indo-Chinese food are yet to catch up on how to make noodles from scratch.  In many Asian and South-East Asian countries where noodles are the staple, they are made by hand. The art of making the perfect noodles can take as much as 10 years to master and has always been passed down over generations in these cultures. 

Many factors affect the taste and texture of noodles, like the source and type of wheat grain, the amount of processing the flour has gone through, the amount of hydration it requires, the weather condition and  the expertise of the person making it.  Not to be discouraged though! Here is one of the simplest methods for making handmade noodles, guaranteed to make your family notice the difference from store-bought versions.

How To Make Noodles From Scratch

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

½  cup corn flour

Method:

1. Place the whole wheat flour into a large bowl and crack open the eggs into the bowl.  

2. Add salt and use clean hands to thoroughly knead the flour and egg mixture till you get a fluffy smooth dough that does not stick to your fingers. 

3. Cover the bowl with a cotton cloth or thin plastic film and let it sit for at least 3-4 hours.

4. Take out the dough from the bowl and use a rolling pin to roll it into a thin layer on the table, thickness of which should be 1-2 mm.

5. Use a knife or a pizza cutter to cut the thin dough layer into strips of desired width to get your noodle strands.

6. As a last step, shift around the strands of the noodles in a bowl of corn flour so that they avoid sticking to each other and dust off the excess flour.  



Since this noodle is made using eggs, you can store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for upto 2-3 days. Noodles made in this way are free from many of the harmful preservatives of its commercial versions. Home-made noodles can also create a wonderful atmosphere of  love and nostalgia in your family as it brings together parents and children to participate in an enjoyable shared activity. These fresh noodles are very versatile and can be used to make different noodle recipes like stir-fried noodles, chilli-garlic noodles, pad-thai noodles, ramen and chowmein. 

To Make Chilli Garlic Noodles 

Ingredients

100 gm fresh noodles 

½  cup chilli powder

½  cup chillies, crushed 

8 cloves garlic, crushed

½  cup vegetable oil

¼ cup black vinegar

¼ cup light soy sauce

¼ cup dark soy sauce

½ cup sesame seeds

½ cup sugar

Method

1. In a pan, heat vegetable oil and add chopped garlic and shredded ginger and allow it to sizzle for a few seconds.

2. Add crushed chillies, and chilli powder, and stir it well.

3. Turn off the heat and add light soy, dark soy, sugar, sesame seeds, and black vinegar. Mix them well and set it aside.

4. Prepare the fresh noodles by blanching it in boiling water for just over a minute. Use tongs to remove the noodles and place it in a bowl of ice water to cool it


5. Take out the noodles and place it in a serving bowl. Pour the chilli garlic oil over the noodles. 

6. Garnish with spring onions, and toasted sesame seeds. 

7. Serve and enjoy.