Easy Chinese Lye Noodles

Step 1

Mix the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl

Step 2

Mix the water and lye water together in another bowl

Step 3

With a fork, adding the wet to the dry 1/4 at a time and mix simultaneously, adding the liquid to the driest part of the flour mixture every time. Mix until the it becomes stringy crumbs.

Step 4

Work and knead the dough together with your hands, until it all sticks together. The dough may seem dry and almost crumbly, totally normal.

Step 5

Cover with a wet towel and let the dough rest for about 30 minutes to fully absorb all the moisture and relaxes the gluten.

Step 6

Separate the dough into 4 portions so it’s easier to work with

Step 7

With a rolling pin, take one portion and roll it out, fold in the dough from the long ends, turn it 90 degrees, roll it out again and repeat for 10 times or until the dough is completely smooth. (OR do this with a pasta maker)

Step 8

Switch to another portion and do the same while the first one rests, repeat through all four of the dough

Step 9

Come back to the first portion and roll it out to 1/10″(0.2cm) thick (or your desired thickness)If using a pasta maker, I prefer the thickness of #5.

Step 10

Dust the flat dough with cornstarch so it doesn’t stick and fold it 4 times so it is easy to cut.(No folding if using the pasta maker to cut)

Step 11

Cut your noodles into your desired width

Step 12

Boil a pot of water and cook it for 2~3 mins and enjoy! (or group them into a ball and freeze them to use in the future)