Nanchang Mixed Rice Noodles

The moment this bowl of Nanchang mixed rice noodles is served, the aroma fills your nostrils. Each strand of rice noodle is coated in a glistening sauce, springy and chewy, with the rich flavor of the blended sesame oil and the spiciness of the chili oil. The crispness of the dried radish, the caramelized aroma of the peanuts, and the freshness of the cilantro unfold in layers in your mouth, becoming more fragrant with each chew. Its status as a national delicacy stems from the meticulous care put into this bowl of noodles: the blended oil is the essence of vegetables and spices simmered for 15 minutes; the blended soy sauce is a savory-sweet flavor achieved by simmering rock sugar and spices; and it's paired with readily available chili oil—every seasoning is carefully blended. This seemingly simple bowl of mixed noodles embodies an ultimate pursuit of the essence of everyday life; one bite and you'll understand why it's so popular across the country.

Ingredients

Steps

Compound Sesame Oil
Prepare the vegetables: Chop carrots, scallions, onions, ginger, and garlic and set aside. Pat dry with kitchen paper.
Preparing the cilantro: Wash the cilantro and scallion whites, pat them dry with kitchen paper, and set them aside for later use.
Prepare spices: Wash the cardamom, star anise, bay leaves and cinnamon, and pat them dry with kitchen paper.
Place the chopped vegetables, spices, and lard into a small saucepan. Pour in enough cooking oil to cover the ingredients. Simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes, until the solids turn golden brown. ✅ Tip: This oil will fill the whole house with aroma while cooking! You can make a larger batch and store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. It's perfect for making scallion oil noodles or cold dishes; the aroma will even attract your neighbors!
Compound Soy Sauce: Prepare ginger slices, bay leaves, star anise, rock sugar, and scallion whites.
Place in a small saucepan, add 100ml light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and 50ml water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 3 minutes. ✅ Tip: This soy sauce has a slightly sweet and savory flavor, perfect for mixing with Cantonese rice noodle rolls or simply tossing rice noodles directly. It's versatile and practical.
Homemade Chili Oil: Put two spoonfuls of chili powder in a bowl, heat oil in a pan until boiling, then pour it in with a sizzling sound and mix well. ✅ Tip: Chili oil is a versatile condiment that's always on hand! Make a large batch and store it. You can use it to make Sichuan dipping sauce, cold dishes, or as a dumpling dip. It's fragrant, spicy, and addictive, and the longer you store it, the more fragrant it becomes.
Spicy Chili Oil: Finely chop green and red chilies and put them in a bowl. Pour in freshly brewed, steaming hot compound sesame oil. With a sizzle, the aroma instantly fills the entire kitchen! This chili oil is moist, fragrant, and spicy, a perfect match for the chili oil to follow. Add a spoonful when mixing noodles, and it'll be so delicious you'll want to lick the bowl clean!
Mince the garlic and set aside.
Finely chop the cilantro and green onions and set aside.
Stir-fried Dried Radish: Chop the dried radish and stir-fry in a pan until the moisture evaporates. Leave a little oil around the edge of the pan, add minced garlic and stir-fry over low heat until fragrant. Then stir-fry the garlic and radish together evenly. ✅ Tip: This is homemade dried radish from my mom. If you're buying it from outside, try to choose a sweeter variety; it will become more fragrant the more you chew it!
Rice noodles: Put the rice noodles into a pot, bring the water to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes. Take them out and rinse them with cold boiled water to remove the sticky residue on the surface. Put them into a large container.
Place the rice noodles in a large container. First, add 1 spoonful of chili oil and 2 spoonfuls of compound soy sauce. Then, scoop out a spoonful of the spicy oil made by drizzling hot sesame oil with chopped green and red chilies. Mix well. Each rice noodle is coated with the oily sauce, the aroma is so enticing it will have the neighbors knocking on the door! Add the stir-fried dried radish and fried peanuts, and finally sprinkle in the chopped cilantro and scallions. Mix well and it's ready to eat! The aroma is so strong it'll blow your mind; every bite is authentic Nanchang flavor!