Cold noodles with shredded chicken, or 鸡丝凉面, is a Sichuan dish, but it’s extremely popular across China as a tasty and cooling street food during hot summer months.
Cold noodle dishes in general are quite popular in China. Many restaurants have their own version, and every family has their own favorite recipe.
In general, cold noodles are prepared with a slightly tangy sauce consisting of aromatic sesame paste and raw garlic and scallion.
I personally don’t like the texture of sesame paste, or tahini, so I used roasted peanuts. The peanuts add a nice crunch to the dish! But feel free to use one, the other, or both––whatever suits your tastes.
For some, the idea of eating cold noodles may be a bit strange, but think of it as the Chinese version of a pasta salad.
And at the end of the day, let’s be honest, nothing—not even scorching summer heat—will keep Chinese people from their noodles. There’s always a workaround in Chinese cuisine!
Cold Noodles with Chicken: Recipe Instructions
First, poach the chicken breast. Fill a small pot with enough water to submerge the chicken breast (but don’t add the chicken yet), and add the ginger and scallion.
When the water comes to a boil, add the chicken, and bring to a boil again. Immediately cover the pot, shut off the heat, and let the chicken sit in the water for 22-25 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Prepare the sauce by combining the sugar, sesame oil, garlic, rice vinegar, light soy sauce, chili oil, and salt to taste.
Cook your choice of noodles by following the package instructions. Remember, no one likes soggy overcooked noodles, so keep an eye on them or set a timer! Drain the noodles and rinse thoroughly under cold water. They’re now ready to use. If you’re not ready to eat them right away, mix in about 1-2 teaspoons of oil to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
Assemble the noodles by mixing the following together: noodles, shredded chicken, julienned cucumber, bean sprouts, chopped peanuts (see our wok fried peanuts recipe), scallion and cilantro. Pour the sauce over everything and toss together. Serve!
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Recipe
Cold Noodles with Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
For the noodles, you’ll need:
- 1 chicken breast (left at room temperature for 1-2 hours so it's not cold from the fridge)
- 2 slices ginger
- 1 scallion (cut into 3-inch lengths)
- 2 servings noodles (almost any noodle or pasta will work)
- 1/2 seedless cucumber (julienned)
- 1 1/2 cup bean sprouts (raw or blanched)
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts (coarsely chopped; see our wok roasted peanuts recipe, which you can prepare ahead of time. Store-bought also works.)
- 1 scallion (finely chopped)
- A small handful chopped cilantro
For the sauce, you’ll need:
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 2 – 3 teaspoons chili oil (omit if you don’t like heat)
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- First, poach the chicken breast. Fill a small pot with enough water to submerge the chicken breast (but don’t add the chicken yet), and add the ginger and scallion. When the water comes to a boil, add the chicken, and bring to a boil again. Immediately cover the pot, shut off the heat, and let the chicken sit in the water for 22-25 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Prepare the sauce by combining all the sauce ingredients in a bowl.
- Cook your choice of noodle by following the package instructions. Remember, no one likes soggy overcooked noodles, so keep an eye on them or set a timer! Drain the noodles and rinse thoroughly under cold water. They’re now ready to use. If you’re not ready to eat them right away, mix in about 1-2 teaspoons of oil to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
- Assemble the noodles by mixing the following together: noodles, shredded chicken, julienned cucumber, bean sprouts, chopped peanuts, scallion and cilantro. Pour the sauce over everything and toss together. Serve!
