According to tradition one should not purposely cut or snap the noodles when cooking or eating.

According to tradition one should not purposely cut or snap the noodles when cooking or eating.


Chinese New Year augers a time of community, family, friends and of course food.  Noodles are considered a lucky food to have as they are symbolic of long life.  This noodle recipe is based on a recipe I grew up with, adjusted for availability of products at a standard grocery store.  

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 lbs. uncooked Asian noodles – look for the very thin rice noodles, vermicelli rice noodles or canton noodles which are thicker yellow noodles sold in the Asian food aisle 

  • 1 lb boneless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch chunks

  • 2 large carrots cut into matchsticks

  • 1 small cabbage cored and cut into thin strips

  • 1 bunch green onions

  • 1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms

  • 1 large onion minced

  • 1 tablespoon tamari (a gluten free soy sauce substitute or you can also use soy sauce)

  • 6 cloves of garlic crushed

  • 6 cups bone broth or chicken stock

  • Salt and pepper to taste 

  • Garnish with lemon 

  1. Soak the noodles in water for about 5 minutes or until soft.

  2. Brown the chicken in the oil with the tamari, garlic, and onion.

  3. Add the bone broth/stock to chicken and bring to a low simmer. Add the vegetables and cook for 5-10 minutes. Add the soaked vermicelli rice noodles.  Simmer over low heat until the noodles soak up all the broth. Salt and pepper to taste and garnish with lemon.

Benefits according to Chinese Food enerergetics

Chicken-warming, strengthens the stomach, spleen and digestion, improves energy

Carrot-sweet, neutralizes toxins, nourishes the body, builds yin fluids

Cabbage-pungent, promotes circulation and distribution of fluids and blood in body

Green Onion- warming,  expels pathogenic factors, improves immune system

Shiitake Mushroom- sweet, neutralizes the toxic effect of other food, nourishes the body, tonifies the kindneys

Onion-warm, pungent, lowers blood pressure & cholesterol, decreases phlegm and inflammation of nose and throat, inhibits allergic reactions, induces sweating, treats bronchial inflammation, and chest congestion, calms the brain, general sedative

Tamari-salty, dissipates accumulations, nourishes the blood

Garlic-hot & pungent; promotes circulation, sweating, removes stagnant food and abdominal obstructions, inhibits the cold virus, treats pneumonia, asthma, diarrhea, warts, eliminates toxins from the body

Bone broth-warming, excellent for rehabilitating or recovery from long illness, strengthens digestion

Lemon-cool, sour, arrests cough, improves immune system, controls bleeding

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