Handmade Noodle (pasta) Soup - Mee Hoon Kueh （面粉果）

This is one of my favourite comfort food which I may never have to cook for myself. The technique of pulling and stretching the noodle dough is crucial for creating a smooth yet bouncy texture for the noodles and I have no patience for it. So all I need to do is to place the order with my sous chef and it will be served. However I must take note to order it at least an hour in advance so that the chef can prepare this at a comfortable pace, in less cranky mood.. LOL...


Serves 2 or 3

Dough Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup water
*Proportion - 2 flour : 1 water

Making the dough:

• Pour flour into a big bowl.
• Make a well in the middle of flour and gradually add water until loose crumbs are formed.
• Press crumbs together to form a dough. Knead until smooth.
• Sprinkle flour over dough and set aside.

Soup Ingredients:
1/2 cup of ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
100g chicken breast (sliced)
2 stalks Bak Choy or Choy Sum (chopped)
2 slices ginger
5 cups chicken stock
2 eggs (optional)
10 prawns (optional)
salt and white pepper to taste
spring onions or coriander and fried shallots or garlic to garnish


Cooking:

• Bring chicken stock to boil, add ikan bilis and ginger.
• Lower heat to medium.
• Rub fingers with flour and tear off a crumb of dough.
• Pull and stretch the dough until it resembles a rough piece of pasta, drop into soup.
• Continue with adding as much dough to soup as desired.
• Turn heat to high and add chicken and prawns when pieces of noodles begin to float to surface.
• Cook for about 3 minutes, add vegetables and eggs (if desired).
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Garnish and serve with fried ikan bilis and freshly cut red chilli padi in light soy.

**Notes:

• Remaining dough can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It has to be dusted with flour for reuse.
• Adjust thickness and texture of the noodles according to preference by stretching and pulling the dough.
• Chicken can be replaced by seasoned pork meatballs or fish slices if desired.