Biangbiang Noodles (Biangbiang Mian)

Ingredients

• 500g bread flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 300ml water
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for coating
• 4 tbsp chili flakes
• 2 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil, for the chili oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 spring onions, sliced
• 3 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
• 1 tsp sugar
• Handfuls of bok choy leaves

Before you cook

• Whisk the flour and salt together in a large bowl.
• Pour in the water gradually, mixing until a rough dough forms.
• Knead the dough on a counter for 5 minutes, until smooth.
• Rub the kneaded dough with the tablespoon of oil, cover it, and let it rest at room temperature for at least 4 hours.
• Divide the rested dough into 4 equal pieces and shape each into a short log, coating each log in a thin film of oil.
• Let the logs rest, covered, for another 30 minutes.

Steps

1. Put the chili flakes, star anise, cinnamon stick, and Sichuan peppercorns in a heatproof bowl.
2. Heat the 1/2 cup of oil in a small saucepan until it just starts to shimmer.
3. Pour the hot oil over the spices in the bowl and let it steep for 10 minutes.
4. Strain the spiced oil and stir in the minced garlic while the oil is still warm.
5. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
6. Pick up one dough log and stretch it lengthwise by pulling and slapping it against the counter.
7. Press your thumb down the center of the stretched dough to create a thin line, then tear the dough along that line into two long, connected strands.
8. Drop the pulled noodle into the boiling water.
9. Repeat the stretching and tearing with the remaining dough logs, adding each noodle to the pot.
10. Add the bok choy to the pot for the last minute of cooking.
11. Boil the noodles for 2 to 3 minutes, until they float and look translucent at the edges.
12. Drain the noodles and greens and divide them between four bowls.
13. Spoon the soy sauce, black vinegar, sugar, and sliced spring onions over each bowl.
14. Pour the hot spiced chili oil over the top of each bowl.
15. Toss everything together at the table before eating.