The Best Yumblink Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
Hey, everyone! It’s been a while, but I’m back with something amazing! Tian Shui Mian, or sweet water noodles, straight from the heart of Chengdu, Sichuan. This dish is addictive, delicious, and surprisingly easy to make at home – especially when you’re making the noodles from scratch!
For those who haven’t heard of Tian Shui Mian, it’s a noodle dish that’s all about those chewy, hand-cut noodles drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be hooked! Let’s dive right into making the most satisfying noodles you’ll ever have.
Method
Mix the Ingredients
Start by combining the flour, water, and a pinch of salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients together until they start forming a dough. You want the dough to be just firm enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to knead easily. Once everything is incorporated, continue mixing until you can form a ball of dough with your hands.
Rest the Dough
Cover the dough with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let it rest for 15 minutes. The resting time is crucial for the dough to soften, making it easier to knead. After 15 minutes, knead the dough again for a minute to ensure everything is well-mixed and smooth. Cover it once more and let it rest for another 15 minutes. If you’re after chewier noodles, you can let the dough rest for up to 1 hour, but make sure to knead the dough 1-2 more times during this period to achieve the desired texture.
Roll and Fold the Dough
After resting, it’s time to roll out the dough. Begin by flattening it into a rectangle. Take one side of the dough and fold it over towards the middle, then flip the dough and roll it out into a rectangle again. Repeat this rolling and folding process 2-3 times. This helps develop a smoother texture, ensuring your noodles turn out tender and chewy.
Roll to the Right Thickness
Now, roll the dough out into a large rectangle, aiming for a thickness of about 4mm. Use a little flour on your rolling surface to prevent the dough from sticking. The dough should be thin but not too fragile; you want it thick enough to hold together as noodles once cut. Don’t rush this step; the thickness of your noodles will affect their texture when cooked.
Cut the Noodles
Once your dough is rolled out, it’s time to cut the noodles. Take the rectangle and fold it over gently, then slice it into wide strips. The width of each noodle can be adjusted to your preference, but aim for strips that are hearty and substantial. Make sure to cut them quickly but carefully so they stay even and easy to handle.
Boil the Noodles
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. While you’re waiting for the water to heat up, take two strips of the dough and gently pull them to make them longer. You can pull each strip as long as you like, but keep in mind the longer the noodle, the more it will stretch as it cooks. Once the water is boiling, carefully drop the noodles into the pot one by one. Be gentle when adding the noodles to avoid splashing hot water.
Repeat the Process
Continue pulling and adding the noodles to the boiling water, working in small batches so the noodles don’t stick to each other. Once each batch is in the pot, make sure to stir them gently to prevent clumping. This process ensures all the noodles cook evenly and remain separate.
Cook the Noodles
Allow the noodles to cook for 3-5 minutes, or until they are just done. You want them to be al dente, meaning they should have a slight bite to them, not too soft. Be careful not to overcook the noodles, as this will make them mushy and lose that delightful chewy texture. Taste a noodle to make sure it’s to your liking before moving on.
Toss with Sauce
Once the noodles are cooked, transfer them to a bowl. Drizzle the sweet sauce (from the previous post) over the noodles and toss gently to coat. Make sure every noodle is generously coated with the sauce to get the full flavor experience. The sauce adds the perfect balance of sweetness and savory richness, bringing the dish together beautifully.
Necessary Tools
- A large mixing bowl
- Rolling pin or a flat surface for dough
- Knife or dough cutter
- Pot for boiling water
- Strainer or colander
Tian Shui Mian
Cuisine: ChineseDifficulty: EasyServings
2
servingsPrep time
15
minutesCooking time
10
minutesTotal time
25
minutesIngredients
140g plain flour (Chinese dumpling flour works, but regular plain flour is fine)
65-70ml water
A pinch of salt
Directions
- Mix the Ingredients In a large bowl, combine the flour, water, and pinch of salt. Mix everything together until it forms a dough ball.
- Rest the Dough Cover the dough and let it rest for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, knead it again and cover it for another 15 minutes. If you’re looking for chewier noodles, you can rest it for up to 1 hour just knead a couple more times during that hour.
- Roll and Fold Roll the dough into a rectangle. Fold two sides over, flip it, and roll it out again. Do this process 2-3 times to make the dough nice and smooth.
- Roll to the Right Thickness Roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 4mm thick. Dust the surface with a little flour to prevent sticking.
- Cut the Noodles Fold the dough and cut it into wide strips. You want these strips to be big and hearty!
- Boil the Noodles Bring a pot of water to a boil. Grab two strips of dough and gently pull them to make them longer. Carefully drop them into the boiling water.
- Repeat For each batch, repeat the process until all noodles are in the water.
- Cook Let the noodles cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until they’re just done (you want them al dente for that perfect bite).
- Toss with Sauce Once the noodles are cooked, transfer them to a bowl and add the sweet sauce (check the previous post for the sauce recipe!). Toss to coat.
Notes
- Resting Time Don’t skip the resting time for the dough! It’s essential for the noodles to have the right texture.
- Boiling Water Make sure the water isn’t just warm it needs to be boiling to cook the noodles properly.
- Cutting the Noodles If your dough is on the thinner side, folding and cutting may get tricky. You might want to use a smaller portion of dough to make it easier to handle.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these noodles as a stand-alone dish, or pair them with some grilled chicken, crispy tofu, or a side of stir-fried veggies for a complete meal. They’re also fantastic as a late-night snack, and they make great leftovers!
Fun Fact
Did you know that Tian Shui Mian is a comfort food for many in Chengdu? The dish gets its name from the “sweet water” (甜水) sauce that brings all the flavor to the noodles. It’s a classic street food that locals love to grab on the go!
Conclusion
There you have it! Your very own batch of Tian Shui Mian, made from scratch. It’s a super satisfying process, and the result is a bowl of chewy, flavorful noodles that will quickly become one of your go-to comfort foods. Let me know how your noodles turn out, and don’t forget to share your creations! Happy cooking!
