How to make Youpo Mian (Oil-Poured Noodles) from Shanxi Cuisine.

The key to successful扯面 (hand-pulled noodles) lies in whether the dough is kneaded and proofed sufficiently to fully develop its elasticity. If you have a stand mixer at home, you can use it to knead the dough, which is more convenient and faster.

油泼扯面 (Oil-Splashed Hand-Pulled Noodles)

油泼面的做法 (Recipe for Oil-Splashed Noodles)

主料 (Main Ingredients)

Flour 260g, Warm Water 150g

辅料 (Seasonings)

Salt 3g, Scallions, Garlic, Chili Powder, Light Soy Sauce, Vinegar, Peanut Oil

油泼面的做法步骤 (Steps for Oil-Splashed Noodles)

1. Add a spoonful of salt to the flour. Gradually add warm water and mix into a shaggy dough. Knead for a while until a smooth, soft dough is formed, then cover with a damp towel and let it rest for half an hour. The dough can be a bit softer, as it will have better extensibility when being pulled.

2. Divide the rested dough into equal portions. Brush oil on the plate and on each portion of dough to prevent sticking, then cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for another hour or more.

3. After an hour, the dough will become very soft. Roll the dough out thinly and press the center of the dough with chopsticks.

4. Hold both ends of the dough and stretch it out slowly along the mark made by the chopsticks. The center of the stretched dough might be thicker than the ends, so once the ends feel appropriately thick, stretch the center slightly more. Finally, tear the stretched dough apart along the chopstick mark. If the dough is wide, you can tear it twice. Peel and wash an appropriate amount of garlic and ginger, then mince them.

5. Bring a pot of water to a boil. While waiting, mince the scallions and garlic, and have the chili powder ready.

6. Once the water is boiling, add the pulled noodles, cook uncovered for about 2 minutes, then remove them with a slotted spoon. Sprinkle with the minced scallions, garlic, and chili powder.

7. In a separate pan, heat a large spoonful of peanut oil until it's very hot (about 80% of the way to smoking). Carefully pour the hot oil over the scallions, garlic, and chili powder in a circular motion.

8. Add light soy sauce and vinegar to your taste, toss well, and serve.