This recipe for longevity noodles is based on the traditional Lunar New Year dish that brings you good luck and long life…if you don’t break the noodles!
I am 100% sure this recipe for longevity noodles (also known as long life noodles) came about because for DECADES, my completely Irish family has always always always celebrated Lunar New Year with an all out feast.
This year it is on Friday, February 12th, and please Google “Lunar New Year” if you want a little extra celebration. :)
My little sis and my mama always start us off with the best scallion pancakes I’ve ever tasted (there are those pancakes right before being cooked up), followed by a feast that includes things like spareribs and duck and dumplings.
My job was usually the almond cookies, and I make a pretty dang good almond cookie if I do say so myself.
It’s AMAZING, and it’s been happening ever since I was a little girl. And while I am SO HAPPY that my mama and my little sis are close enough that they can keep the scallion pancakes happening, we haven’t been able to get together this year, so in the interest of still doing my part, here are these noodles!
What are longevity noodles?
This delectable dish is made with long noodles (I used linguine, but you can use Chinese egg noodles, lo mein or any other long noodle) that are cooked and then stir-fried with with a ginger and wine and soy sauce and other good things.
Mushrooms are usually a staple in these noodles, but since we are not a mushroom loving crowd here in the Carolina Dream House, I used chicken which added a nice hit of protein.
How do you make longevity noodles?
The step-by-step is in the recipe below, but here are a few of my best hints for this recipe!
First and most importantly, don’t break the noodles!
Second, and I can’t stress this one enough, measure out and line up your ingredients in the order in which you are going to use them. When this recipe gets going it moves FAST, and you want to be ready!
(Honestly, I do this with every single recipe I make, and for ones like this I love having prep bowls of all sizes to help out.)
Third, if you don’t have a wok (I don’t!), a large skillet is going to work just fine.
Last but definitely not least, for any and all recipes involving soy sauce, I highly recommend going for the low sodium kind. You can always add salt but it’s pretty impossible to take it out. (I speak from, um, experience.)
So if you want to welcome Lunar New Year with a little extra luck…longevity noodles! Just remember not to bite them. :)
Want to round out your meal? This recipe pairs well with...
Longevity Noodles
Prep Time: 20 minutes- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
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This recipe for longevity noodles is based on the traditional Lunar New Year dish that brings you good luck and long life…if you don’t break the noodles!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces linguine
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (you can sub in sherry if you need to)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- Sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage
- 6 scallions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cook linguine according to package directions. Drain under cold water, dump back in the pot and toss with the sesame oil.
- Put chicken in a mixing bowl with the ginger, 1 teaspoon of wine, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon of soy saice and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
- Heat a heavy deep skillet (or a wok if you have one!) over high heat. Add the canola oil and the red pepper, give it all a stir and then add the chicken mixture, trying for a single layer as best you can. Let it sear for a minute without stirring it, then toss the chicken with tongs until it is cooked through, about another 2 minutes.
- Add the cabbage and toss for another minute until it starts to wilt. Add the noodles, the remaining wine and soy sauce and the scallions and toss until heated through. Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Divide among plates, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve, and don’t bite the noodles!
Notes
Need to add something to your kitchen equipment to make this recipe? Below are some of the items we used in the Framed Cooks kitchen to help cook this up. These are affiliate links to things we use and love, which helps to pay for all that bacon I keep buying!
Your Mama looks like an Irish lady out of central casting! I’m making this over the weekend – subbing a bag of coleslaw mix for the Napa cabbage, because it’s what I’ve got. Happy VD.
★★★★★
Doesn’t she though?I’m going to add the coleslaw mix idea to the recipe – hope your Valentine’s weekend was wonderful! xo
I have never written a review on a recipe, but I had to for this one.Delicious!!! I had been looking for a recipe to celebrate the Lunar New Year with ingredients I had on hand. I had fresh pasta & used a bag of cole slaw. Thanks so much!
★★★★★
Judy! This brought a big smile to my face – and of course cole slaw would be perfect in place of the Napa cabbage. Happy Lunar New Year! :) :)