Description

Egg noodles refer to the long, round or flat noodles ( staple in Chinese cuisine) which are prepared from wheat flour, eggs,water and salt. The addition of eggs add flavor, color, and body. They're often used to make chow mein (in which the cooked noodles are formed into a pancake and fried on both sides) and lo mein (in which the noodles are stir-fried along with the other ingredients). Chow mein egg noodles are usually cut a bit thinner than lo mein noodles, but the two can be used interchangeably. The dough for noodles made from wheat flour is typically made from wheat flour, salt, and water, with the addition of eggs or lye depending on the desired texture and taste of the noodles .Egg, lye, or food coloring may also be added to noodles made from wheat flour in order to give the noodles a yellow color. Arrowroot or tapioca starch is sometimes added to the flour mixture in low quantities to change the texture and tenderness of the egg noodles' strands. Egg noodles also cook very quickly, generally requiring less than 5 minutes to become al dente (cooked through, but still firm ) with thinner noodles requiring less time to cook. The shape and size of egg noodles vary as per the place of their origin, which may be Japan, China, Vietnam or Korea.

Egg wheat noodles- These egg noodles are made with whole wheat flour and not the traditional maida or refined flour. These egg noodles are going to be a better alternative to the maida ones with respect to fiber and health content.

Egg starch noodles : These delicate noodles are mostly used in soups. They're available fresh, dried, or frozen, and they come in various sizes, some as thin as vermicelli, others as thick and wide as fettuccine .

Flat egg noodles- The flat noodles are usually prepared in long sections, and may appear in more than one thickness.

Round noodles- The round types of these egg noodles are usually very thin and often appear as long coiled sections. Round noodles are often used as a base when preparing soup with a few vegetables and a beef or chicken based broth.

How to select

Look for the place of origin and the specific shape and the size of the noodles. The selection of a particular shape varies as per individual preference and recipe requirement. Wet egg noodles should be bought from the refrigerated section after checking the expiry date.

Culinary uses

" They are generally boiled, although they may also be deep-fried in oil until crispy. Boiled egg noodles may then be stir fried, served with sauce or other accompaniments, or served in soup, often with meat and other ingredients.
" Egg noodle may be added to salads or stews.
" The round eg noodles can be used successfully with spaghetti and linguine dishes. The flat egg noodles can work very well with white sauces. In fact, any French or Italian recipe that calls for pasta can be successfully made using egg noodles.

How to store

Storing egg noodles requires no special type of container or conditions. Like any dried pasta, it is a good idea to store the egg noodles in an airtight container, and make sure the container is stored is a cupboard that is no more than room temperature. The dried egg noodles will last for many months without losing any of the basic flavor, or developing a taste that seem slightly off. The wet noodles should be refrigerated and used within 3-4 days.

Health Benefits

" Because Chinese egg noodles are relatively low in cholesterol and carbohydrates, they are a great alternative to other forms of pasta
" The nutritional value varies according to the type of wheat used and the food processing techniques adopted. As a starchy carbohydrate, they are a good source of energy with a medium calorie content.
" One cup of cooked egg noodles contains about 210 calories, about 4 grams of protein, 27 grams of carbohydrates and 12 grams of fat.
" Typically, egg noodles contain some Vitamin A, Vitamin B3 and folate.