This Chinese Longevity Noodles recipe for Chinese New Year is spiced with delicious Asian flavors and is filled with chicken and healthy greens. It's a hearty comfort food meal. 
A lot of people have food for their Super Bowl parties on their minds.
I totally get it, but I'm not thinking guacamole and chips, salsa, or dips at the moment -- I'm thinking about Chinese New Year.
Disclosure: I do not fancy myself an expert of any sort on Chinese New Year -- below is basic information about it I've learned through my interest in the food.
What is Chinese New Year?
- Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Lunar New Year, is a Chinese festival that marks the beginning of the new year.
- It starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice and ends on the full moon fifteen days later.
- The celebration typically revolves around spending time with family and friends, special meals, fireworks, and gift giving.
What do People Eat for Chinese New Year?
Here are seven foods considered to be lucky to eat during Chinese New Year.
- fish - for an increase in prosperity
- dumplings - for wealth
- spring rolls - for wealth
- sweet rice balls - for family bonding
- good fortune fruits - these include grapes, lychee, plums, jujube (a type of date) and Kumquats, and are for fullness and wealth
- rice cakes - for a higher salary and career status
- longevity noodles - for happiness and longevity
You can find out more about Chinese food symbolism here.
What are Longevity Noodles?
- Chinese Longevity Noodles, or long noodles, are eaten all over China.
- These noodles are never cut or broken by the cook, and if they can be eaten without biting through the strands, it’s considered even more auspicious.
- Longevity Noodles are a type of Yi Mein, which is a Cantonese egg noodle made with wheat flour and soda water, which makes them a bit chewier.
- Longevity noodles are usually stir fried.
My friends at Melissa's Produce sent me a package of their fresh Chinese noodles hiding among bundles of gorgeous greens.
What's in this Chinese Longevity Noodle Recipe
- Chinese noodles
- grapeseed oil
- onion
- ginger
- garlic
- cabbage
- Gai Lan
- chicken
- butter
- chili paste
- soy sauce or black vinegar
How about that unexpected magical secret ingredient in these Chinese Longevity Noodles?
The butter. (GASP!)
Recipe Tips
- You can also use dry Longevity Noodles for this recipe, as you'll see in the below directions. Simply follow the cooking instructions on the package.
- Spinach is a great alternative for the Gai Lan if you can't get it.
- If you want to keep it lighter, you don't have to add the butter. You can use a touch more grapeseed oil instead, or a little of each. I must tell you though, the butter creates a really beautiful luscious texture.
This dish is a comfort food like no other -- it's incredibly flavorful, the noodles are so soft, and it's as hearty as can be.
This Chinese Longevity Noodles recipe is totally unforgettable. And that's a promise!
Here are a few more Chinese New Year Menu Ideas . . .
This is not a sponsored post -- Melissa's sent me the noodles and greens for recipe testing, and as always, all opinions are my own.
Chinese Longevity Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (1-pound) bag fresh or dry Chinese noodles (see notes)
- grapeseed oil for the pan and to toss with noodles
- 1¼ cup yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1½ tablespoons ginger pulp
- 1½ tablespoon garlic, minced
- 5 cups Kool or Napa Cabbage, washed and dried, thinly sliced
- 5 cups Gai Lan washed and dried, thinly sliced
- ¾ pound boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized thin strips
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chili paste
- 1 teaspoon Chinese black vinegar or soy sauce
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the fresh Chinese noodles. Immediately stir with a fork to be sure they don't stick together. Let them cook just until they're tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, add them back to the pot, and toss them with grapeseed oil. Set aside.
- Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with grapeseed oil and place it over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring periodically, until the onions are soft, about 7 minutes.
- Add the Gai Lan and cabbage and stir. Cook until all of the greens are wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Then use a spatula to gently push all of the ingredients to one side of the pan. Keeping the heat at medium, add a bit more oil to the empty side of the pan and add the chicken. Season it with salt and pepper and then move it around from time to time until it's cooked through, about 7 minutes.
- Mix everything together and again, move it to the side of the pan. Melt the butter in the empty side, and add the chili paste and vinegar to it. Stir until it's blended and then gently incorporate it into the rest of the ingredients.
- In a very large serving dish and toss the cooked noodles with the contents of the sauté pan. Serve!
NOTES
NUTRITION
Thao @ In Good Flavor
I'm dying over these noodles! They look mouthwatering! Black vinegar is a new ingredient for me though. I'll have to look for it.
valentina
Thanks! Hope you try them and love them!
Sippitysup
Grapeseed oil?? Because it has no discernible flavor and lets these other ingredients shine?? GREG
valentina
Exactly! You must know a little about cooking. 😉 xo
David
Want. And. Need. To me, Valentina, the only "super bowl" is one filled with your noodles! xo
valentina
LOVE this comment, David. Thank you!
sheila
i have been trying to make this noodles forever thanks
valentina
Hope you try the recipe, Sheila! 🙂
Paulina
I just made these and they were INCREDIBLE!!!!!! I didn't use chicken, but instead used extra veggies and it was incredible. I can't stop eating these noodles!!!!!
valentina
Hi Paulina, I'm so happy you loved this recipe! If find those noodles addicting too! 🙂
Josie
I tried to order these noodles online and could not. I live in San Diego CA
valentina
Sorry about that! I'm looking into it, Josie. I'll post answer as soon as I hear back from Melissa's.
valentina
Josie, my contact at Melissa's Produce said to call 800-588-0151 and ask for Cherelle to help you. 🙂
Veena Azmanov
My family craves for this type of dishes any day and this Noodle recipe looks so good. It is healthy and so many good veggie option.
Dannii
I need me a big bowl of these noodles. Total comfort food!
valentina
Indeed it is! 🙂
Monica | Nourish + Fete
I love the name of these and the symbolism of not breaking the noodles, either as cook or consumer!! Sounds like a good reason to eat a lot of noodles to me- YUM! 🙂
valentina
Thank you Monica! I love that too. 🙂
Ann
Oooooh I will have to look for those noodles, this sounds delicious! Love the info on Chinese New Year too, and the symbolism of different foods. Fascinating!
valentina
Thanks so much, Ann!
Julia
I love noodle recipes so can't wait to try this recipe. It sounds delicious!
valentina
Hope you love it!
Erika
SO good! I couldn't bear to add butter though, so I didn't. Was still a great dish. Can't imagine what the butter would add to what otherwise seems like a pretty healthy dish. It was a little difficult to mix the noodles in. Perhaps the butter somehow makes that easier?
valentina
Hi Erika, Thanks so much for writing in. I'm so happy you liked this recipe! 🙂 It's great it was delicious without the butter -- and yes, a bit healthier this way. The butter doesn't necessarily make it easier to mix -- it adds a richness, and slight creaminess, and it's wonderful mixed with the chili paste. I always find noodles a bit tricky to mix into stir-fries because they're long. You could cut them in half or thirds before boiling them and that might help. Thanks for reading Cooking On The Weekends and trying a recipe. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kelly | Foodtasia
Valentina, I'm so swooning over these noodles! Love the veggies and the simplicity of the sauce - and of course the butter!
valentina
Thanks so much, Kelly! 🙂 ~Valentina
2pots2cook
We have been away for a long time and bowl of these noodles would just be so comforting to have dear ! Thank you !
valentina
Enjoy and thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina
Liz
I love, love Asian noodles and these look outstanding! I've never seen gai lan around here but it's good to know spinach works, too!
valentina
Thanks, Liz. Yes, spinach will be great. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
These look seriously yummy, Valentina, and I'm pretty confident that I could eat them for breakfast!! Can't wait to give 'em a try 🙂
valentina
Noodles for breakfast is the best. Thanks, Dawn. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
What a great way to celebrate Chinese New Year. I love learning about the customs of other cultures and what a better way to celebrate than with longevity noodles! This looks delicious.
valentina
Thank you, Kathy. Who doesn't want to celebrate something with good food, right? 😉 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
Interesting! I'm not familiar with many of the Chinese New Year traditions, so thanks for sharing those here. Similarly, longevity noodles are new to me. These look delicious, though...and easy to make! Plus, butter really does make everything better, right??
valentina
Right! Thank you David. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
yang yang
Hey Valentina, wonderful recipe! This New Year I was wondering which recipe I should prepare for my guests. After reading your recipe, I decided to prepare it for New Year's Eve. The guests loved the dish too. Thanks for sharing.
valentina
Thanks so much for your note. You made my day! 🙂 So happy everyone loved this dish. ~Valentina