Xi’an-Style You Po Noodles

陕西油泼面

Xi’an-Style You Po Noodles — Northern Chinese SnackXi'an home cooking.

Ingredients

• chili flakes (Sichuan or Shaanxi style)
• garlic, minced
• light soy sauce
• Chinese black vinegar
• toasted sesame oil

Instructions

1. Place chili flakes, minced garlic, light soy sauce, and black vinegar in a heatproof bowl. Set aside. (Garlic floats on top of liquid; chili flakes stay dry.)
2. Bring a large pot of water to rolling boil. Cook hand-rolled noodles until just tender (al dente), ~3 minutes. (Noodles float freely; tips curl slightly when lifted.)
3. Reserve 60 ml cooking water, then drain noodles and immediately transfer to the bowl with seasonings. (Noodles glisten with surface moisture; steam rises steadily.)
4. Heat 30 ml neutral oil (e.g., peanut or canola) in a small saucepan until shimmering (180°C / 350°F). Do NOT smoke. (Oil surface ripples gently; faint wisps rise.)
5. Immediately pour hot oil over the seasonings — it will sizzle and bloom the chili. Stir once, then drizzle with sesame oil. (Chili turns deep red; garlic sizzles and turns golden at edges.)