Gansu-style Veggie Noodles / 炒拉刀削麵

What follows is based on the Mala Market's lovely recipe for 炒拉條子 / chǎo lā tiáozi, featuring a style of handmade noodles popular in the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu. I am not big on making any sort of dough, so when I was adapting this recipe my big change was to substitute the knife-cut noodles we can buy at the local Chinese supermarket for the homemade noodles. If you have the time and desire to make the right noodles for this dish, then definitely check out the original recipe! If not, my recipe stays close to the original - albeit with the noodle swap and a reduction in sodium intake - and is a fair approximation. 

Gansu-style Veggie Noodles / 炒拉刀削麵

(2 servings*)

Ingredients

200g / 7oz of knife-cut noodles

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1 green onion (sliced/divided**)

5 cloves of garlic (crushed/minced)

1 medium tomato (chopped)

1/2 medium green bell pepper (sliced***)

1/2 medium onion (sliced***)

1 1/2 teaspoons of dark soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons of light soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons of Chinese chili powder

1 teaspoon of ground cumin

1 teaspoon of bouillon powder

Salt**** (to taste)

*When served alone. The portions could easily be stretched if side dishes were also present!

**Divide the whites from the greens.

***I like to quarter the onion and halve the bell pepper before slicing to make for shorter slices, but to each their own!

****I never add salt and don't miss it, but the original recipe called for a teaspoon's worth.

Directions

1) Once the noodles are cooking (as directed by the packaging), place a wok or large pan over high heat, add the oil, and once it's hot stir fry the green onion whites and garlic until fragrant, roughly a minute.

2) Throw the remaining ingredients into the wok and continue stir frying on high for another 3 minutes or so until the tomato has started breaking down and the onion and bell pepper have started to soften.

3) Once the noodles are finished drain them and then toss them with everything else into the wok until they're thoroughly coated with the sauce.

4) Divide the finished noodles between your bowls, garnish with the green onion greens, and enjoy!