First issues first, for anybody who will not be aware of the recipe, Lanzhou beef noodle soup or Lanzhou La Mian (兰州拉面), is a well-liked Chinese language dish that originated in Lanzhou, the capital metropolis of Gansu province in northwestern China. This soup is understood for its simplicity, however I’d say it depends on simmering and cautious seasoning to spotlight its pure taste.

I wish to level out that one of many defining options of Lanzhou beef noodle soup is the hand pulled noodles. They’re often made recent by a chef, who stretches and folds the dough till it turns into lengthy, skinny, and even strands. Watching this in a Lanzhou type store is an expertise price searching for out whenever you journey in China. Or you may merely be taught to make my simple hand-pulled noodles from scratch, and I at all times advocate it for this soup.

Now allow us to speak concerning the broth. My home made broth makes use of beef and beef bones simmered with spices and aromatics for hours till it turns into deeply savory and hearty. Then comes the enjoyable half, the meeting, which is surprisingly easy. I serve the noodles within the clear broth and add tender items of beef, radish, cilantro, and a spoon of my home made chili oil. My recipe makes about 8 servings, but when you’ve got a small household like mine, it shops effectively and is nice to take pleasure in later.

Substances

These are the substances I exploit to make this Lanzhou beef noodle soup. I additionally share a couple of substitutions I’ve examined that work effectively for this recipe.

Beef and bones for the broth

For the meat, my first alternative is untrimmed flank steak. In Chinese language it’s referred to as Niu Nan (牛腩) and the reduce is kind of totally different from what you often see in common grocery shops in the US, so I often choose it up at a Chinese language market. It has extra fats and membranes, and I really like how they soften throughout cooking and preserve the meat tender and juicy. Should you can not discover this reduce, brisket, spherical roast, or chuck additionally work very effectively.

In the case of the bones, I often select beef shin ones for this soup. Neck bones are a very good different if that’s what you may get.

Fragrant Spice Soup Base

Aromatics: I exploit ginger, garlic, and scallion to construct the muse of the broth.

Spices: I add chili pepper, bay leaves, fennel seeds, nutmeg, cinnamon, star anise, entire cloves, and Sichuan peppercorns. This combine offers the broth its depth and the nice and cozy perfume that Lanzhou noodles are identified for.

Salt and daikon radish: I season the broth with salt and simmer daikon radish till it turns tender. The radish provides a light sweetness that balances the meat and spices.

Key ingredient: hand-pulled noodles

As I discussed earlier, the closest solution to take pleasure in an genuine bowl is to make your personal hand pulled noodles. I’ve a hand pulled noodle recipe that you may comply with at residence. It takes a while and persistence, however it is vitally doable whenever you comply with my steps, and the outcomes are at all times price it.

When I’m not making noodles from scratch, I search for Lanzhou recent noodles by Havista at my native Asian market. These semi dried noodles flip properly chewy as soon as boiled, they usually work nice on this soup. Should you can’t discover them, dried wheat noodles are an incredible choice, and a spaghetti type form comes closest to the standard look.

Find out how to make

1. Begin the broth: Add the meat bones and meat to a big pot and canopy them with 8 cups of chilly water. Warmth the pot over medium excessive till it involves a boil, stirring a couple of occasions to maintain the meat from sticking. As soon as the water reaches a boil, scale back the warmth to medium.

2. Skim the broth: Skim off the brown foam from the floor and discard it. Proceed skimming till the broth appears virtually clear, which often takes me about 10 minutes.

3. Add spices and aromatics: Switch the meat, bones, and broth into an On the spot Pot, then add the spices and aromatics.

4. Strain cook dinner the broth: Cook dinner on excessive stress for 1 hour, till the meat turns tender and the broth turns into wealthy.

5. Take away the solids: Switch the meat items onto a plate, then discard the bones and the spices.

6. Cook dinner the radishes: Add the radishes to the broth and simmer for round 10 minutes till they flip tender.

7. Cook dinner and assemble the noodles: Boil the noodles in line with the package deal directions, then divide them among the many bowls. Pour the recent broth over the noodles and add a couple of items of beef, daikon radish, cilantro, and inexperienced onion. Serve with chili oil and salt on the facet for a heat and satisfying meal my household actually enjoys.

Serve and customise

I often serve Lanzhou beef noodle soup the identical approach I loved it in China, as a easy stand alone fundamental dish. The clear broth, tender beef, and hand pulled noodles make an entire and comforting meal on their very own, and I typically pair it with a light-weight cucumber salad or a small wooden ear mushroom salad on the facet.

If you wish to make the meal your personal, there are many simple methods to customise it. You’ll be able to modify the spices, add extra chili oil, or prime with greens you’re keen on, corresponding to yu choy or bok choy. And if you wish to preserve issues easy, I like to recommend including a couple of small traditional plates like Chinese language hen dumplings, or a batch of home made egg rolls. They’re simple heat ups for company or members of the family who’re simply being launched to this soup and assist ease everybody into the meal.

Continuously requested questions

Anytime I crave a comforting and genuine meal, I make this Lanzhou beef noodle soup (兰州拉面). I exploit my home made hand pulled noodles, a mixture of aromatics and spices, beef bones, and tender beef to create a wealthy and flavorful bowl. With my clear directions you may simply make this conventional soup at residence.

Cook dinner ModeStop your display from going darkish

To cook dinner the broth

• Add the meat bones and meat into a big pot. Add 8 cups of chilly water. Warmth over medium-high warmth till delivered to a boil. Stir sometimes to stop the underside from sticking. When it begins to boil, flip to medium warmth. Skim the brown foam from the highest and discard it. Boil and skim till the broth turns virtually clear, 10 minutes or so.

• Switch the meat and bones into the On the spot Pot, and pour in all of the broth. You’ll be able to preserve cooking on the stovetop if not utilizing an On the spot Pot. (*Footnote 3)

• (Elective) Add the cloves, Sichuan peppercorn and star anise right into a tea infuser. Submerge the tea infuser within the broth.

• Add the scallion, ginger, garlic, dried chili pepper, bay leaves, fennel seed, nutmeg, cinnamon stick into the On the spot Pot. Set the stress on excessive, timer for 1 hour. As soon as finished, let stress launch naturally. If you wish to use quick launch, do a pure launch for no less than 20 minutes first, to stop it from spilling.

• As soon as finished, take away and discard the spices, aromatics, and beef bones utilizing a pair of tongs. You can too pressure the broth if that’s simpler. However it is advisable pick the meat individually.

• You may discover a thick layer of oil floating on prime of the soup (relying on the fattiness of the meat). Use a ladle to skim the oil off in line with your desire (*footnote 4).

• Add salt and blend effectively. Style the broth and modify seasoning if wanted. The broth ought to style a bit salty by itself, so it is going to be good after including the noodles. You can too modify the seasoning later, after assembling the bowls.

• Activate the saute operate if utilizing On the spot Pot. Add the daikon radish and cook dinner till tender, 10 minutes or so.

• Boil the noodles in line with package deal directions.

To assemble noodles

• Add noodles to every serving bowl, then pour within the broth. Prime noodles with beef, a couple of items of daikon radish, and a few cilantro. Serve instantly with chili oil and soy sauce on the facet. Get pleasure from scorching as a fundamental dish.

Ingredient Substitution Information

1. If the bones will not be reduce, ask the butcher to chop the meat bones lengthwise into brief items when buying.
2. Utilizing untrimmed cuts will generate a really tender and moist lean half after simmering. You’ll be able to trim off and discard the fats earlier than serving. Different beef cuts corresponding to brisket, shank, or spherical roast are additionally appropriate for this recipe.
3. Add 2 cups of water into the pot in the event you preserve cooking on the stovetop. Cowl and simmer over low warmth for 3 hours, or till the meat turns very tender.
4. I often skim off as a lot oil as I can and reserve it. Some folks prefer to serve the broth with oil on prime, however I discovered it scrumptious sufficient with out the oil. You need to use the oil for stir-frying later and it’ll assist you create very scrumptious dishes. To retailer beef fats, permit the oil to chill in a small bowl at room temperature, then switch it to an air-tight container. It may be saved within the fridge for as much as 2 weeks.

Serving: 1serving, Energy: 429kcal, Carbohydrates: 51.5g, Protein: 35.1g, Fats: 9.1g, Saturated Fats: 2.9g, Ldl cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 953mg, Potassium: 577mg, Fiber: 4.6g, Sugar: 7.3g, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 4mg

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to listen to the way it turned out for you! Please take a second to depart a 5-star ranking ⭐️ and share your ideas within the feedback additional down the web page. It actually helps others uncover the recipe too.