Chinese wheat noodles can appear in two different shapes: flat and round. Flat noodles are usually prepared in long sections, and they may appear in more than one thickness. The round type 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.
Regardless of the appearance of the Chinese wheat noodles, the recipe for making the noodles is a simple one. There are only three ingredients: wheat flour, water, and salt. The finished product will have a dull white to a slightly yellow tint to the pasta. The noodles can be dried and stored for later use or cooked immediately after preparation. One thing that makes them so appealing is that they take very little time to cook. If working with fresh product, two to four minutes in boiling water will result in perfectly cooked noodles. For dried noodles, it will take somewhere between four to seven minutes.
Because Chinese wheat noodles are relatively low in cholesterol and carbohydrates, they can be used as an alternative to other forms of pasta. This means that the round noodles can be used successfully with spaghetti and linguine dishes. Flat noodles can work very well with white sauces or as a compliment to eggplant Parmesan. In fact, any French or Italian recipe that calls for pasta can be successfully made using Chinese wheat noodles.
These noodles can also be used successfully in the place of rice to make a pudding, making it possible for people who are trying to avoid a lot of starch to still enjoy something sweet with the meal. Because the noodles tend to absorb flavors very well, they will easily blend in with the spices and extracts used to make the pudding.
Storing Chinese wheat noodles requires no special type of container or conditions. Like any dried pasta, it is a good idea to store them in an airtight container, and make sure the container is stored is a cupboard that is no more than room temperature. Dried noodles will last for a year or more without losing any of the basic flavor or developing a taste that seems off.
