Chinese New Year Long Life Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables
Symbolic long life noodles celebrate prosperity and longevity during Chinese New Year festivities. Fresh egg noodles are stir-fried with tender marinated chicken, crisp vegetables, and earthy black mushrooms in a savory oyster sauce-based glaze. The uncut noodles represent long life, making this dish essential for New Year celebrations. Aromatic ginger, garlic, and sesame oil create authentic flavors while baby bok choy and bamboo shoots add satisfying texture and color.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoons oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon Chinese rice wine or gin
- 1 ½ teaspoons ginger
- ½ teaspoon thin or supreme soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- white pepper
- ½ pound chicken
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with 3 tablespoons cold water
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon dark soy
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil
- ½ pound fresh egg noodles
- 1 ½ tablespoons ginger
- 2 teaspoons garlic
- ½ cup bamboo shoots, strips
- ¼ pound baby bok choy or Chinese broccoliregular bok choy or Chinese broccoli1:1vegetable
cut into smaller pieces
- 5 black Chinese mushrooms, soaked 30 minutes
- 3 green onions
Instructions
- 1
Mix all marinade ingredients together in a small bowl and reserve
- 2
Combine all marinade ingredients in a large bowl and add chicken, let stand for 30 minutes
- 3
Heat pan to high and add oil, add garlic and cook until light brown
- 4
Add noodles to pan and cook until tender, about 2 minutes
- 5
Add ginger, bok choy, and mushrooms and cook for about 30 seconds
- 6
Add the chicken with marinade and cook for about two minutes or until chicken is almost cooked, stirring continually
- 7
Add sauce mixture and cornstarch slurry, bring to a boil for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened
- 8
Add more cornstarch slurry if necessary, garnish with green onions
Tips
Keep noodles long and uncut during cooking as they symbolize longevity in Chinese tradition
Soak dried mushrooms in warm water for fuller flavor and softer texture
Have all ingredients prepped before cooking as stir-frying happens quickly
Good to Know
refrigerate up to 3 days
marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead
immediately while hot
Common Mistakes
cut noodles to avoid breaking tradition
overcook vegetables to avoid mushy texture
skip marinating to avoid bland chicken
Substitutions
cook according to package directions
cut into smaller pieces
FAQ
Can I use dried noodles instead of fresh?
Yes, cook dried egg noodles according to package directions first, then add to the stir-fry. Fresh noodles give better texture but dried work fine.
What if I can't find black Chinese mushrooms?
Substitute with shiitake or cremini mushrooms. Dried shiitake work best - soak them first like the Chinese mushrooms for deeper flavor.
How long do leftovers keep?
Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water to prevent noodles from drying out.