Longevity Noodles (长寿面) — Chinese New Year Braised Yi Mein

Name: Longevity Noodles (长寿面) — Chinese New Year Braised Yi Mein
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 300g yi mein noodles (伊面); 200g fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced; 2 tbsp oyster sauce; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp dark soy sauce; 200ml chicken stock; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp ginger, sliced; 2 spring onions, cut into sections; 1 tsp sesame oil; 2 tbsp neutral oil

Prep:20 min

Cook:20 min

Serves:2–4

Difficulty:Medium

Longevity noodles (长寿面, cháng shòu miàn) are essential at Chinese New Year and birthday celebrations — their uncut length symbolises a long, prosperous life. Yi mein noodles, with their unique spongy texture (they're fried before being dried), absorb the savoury mushroom and oyster sauce braising liquid beautifully. The cardinal rule: never cut the noodles, or you'll symbolically cut short your life span.

Longevity noodles are one of China's most important celebratory foods. The tradition dates back over 2,000 years, and the noodles are served at birthdays, weddings, and Chinese New Year.

Ingredients

• 300g yi mein noodles (伊面)
• 200g fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 200ml chicken stock
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, sliced
• 2 spring onions, cut into sections
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp neutral oil

Instructions

1
Briefly blanch yi mein noodles in boiling water for 30 seconds to loosen them. Drain gently — don't break them.
2
Heat oil in a wok. Add garlic, ginger, and spring onion whites. Stir-fry for 30 seconds.
3
Add mushrooms and stir-fry for 2 minutes until softened.
4
Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Stir to combine.
5
Pour in chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
6
Carefully add the noodles. Use tongs to gently toss and coat without breaking them. Braise for 3-4 minutes until noodles absorb the sauce.
7
Drizzle with sesame oil, garnish with spring onion greens, and serve on a large platter.

Pro Tips

💡Never cut the noodles — their length represents longevity. Use tongs to handle them gently.
💡Yi mein has a spongy texture because it's fried during manufacturing. This helps it absorb sauce beautifully.
💡The dish should be slightly saucy, not dry. Add more stock if the noodles absorb everything too quickly.