Skip to main content

Braised Noodles with Green Beans (Dou Jiao Men Mian, )

Braised Noodles with Green Beans (Dou Jiao Men Mian, )


Introduction

Dou Jiao Men Mian  is a classic northern Chinese dish that combines chewy hand-cut or dried noodles with tender braised green beans, pork, and savory aromatics. Unlike stir-fried noodles, the noodles here are braised directly with the vegetables and sauce, absorbing all the rich flavors. It is hearty, aromatic, and deeply satisfying—perfect as a one-pot family meal.


Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

Main Ingredients:

  • Green beans (string beans) – 300 g

  • Pork belly or pork shoulder – 150 g, cut into thin strips

  • Dried noodles (medium thickness) – 250 g (can substitute with fresh hand-cut noodles)

Aromatics & Sauce:

  • Garlic – 4 cloves, sliced

  • Ginger – 1 small piece, sliced

  • Scallions – 2 stalks, cut into sections

  • Light soy sauce – 2 tablespoons

  • Dark soy sauce – 1 tablespoon

  • Shaoxing wine – 1 tablespoon

  • Salt – to taste

  • White pepper – ½ teaspoon

  • Sugar – ½ teaspoon

  • Cooking oil – 2 tablespoons

Liquid:

  • Water or chicken stock – 2½ cups


Instructions

Step 1 – Prepare the ingredients

  1. Rinse and trim the green beans, then cut them into 5–6 cm (2-inch) sections.

  2. Slice pork into thin strips and marinate briefly with a splash of soy sauce and Shaoxing wine.

  3. Prepare noodles according to package instructions if using dried noodles (cook until just underdone, about 70% cooked). Drain and set aside.


Step 2 – Stir-fry the base

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or deep pan.

  2. Add pork strips and stir-fry until the meat turns light golden.

  3. Add garlic, ginger, and scallions. Stir-fry until fragrant.

  4. Add green beans, cooking for 3–4 minutes until slightly blistered.


Step 3 – Build the braising sauce

  1. Add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and Shaoxing wine. Stir well.

  2. Pour in about 2½ cups of water or chicken stock. Bring to a boil.

  3. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and white pepper.


Step 4 – Add noodles and braise

  1. Spread the par-cooked noodles evenly over the beans and pork mixture.

  2. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce heat to medium-low. Let everything braise for about 8–10 minutes.

  3. During this process, the noodles will absorb the savory broth while steaming from above. Stir once or twice gently to prevent sticking.


Step 5 – Finish and serve

  1. When the liquid has mostly absorbed and the noodles are tender but still chewy, turn off the heat.

  2. Toss gently to combine noodles, beans, and pork evenly.

  3. Garnish with chopped scallions if desired.


Serving Suggestions

  • Serve hot as a main dish, ideally with a small side of pickles or a light soup.

  • For a vegetarian version, omit the pork and replace it with mushrooms or tofu strips.

  • Adjust noodle-to-bean ratio according to your preference—more beans make it lighter, more noodles make it heartier.


Tips for Success

  • Do not overcook noodles before braising; they should be slightly firm so they finish cooking in the broth.

  • Keep an eye on the liquid level—add a splash of water if it evaporates too quickly.

  • The dish should end up relatively dry, with noodles fully coated in the sauce, not soupy.


Dou Jiao Men Mian captures the essence of rustic northern Chinese cooking: simple ingredients transformed into a flavorful, comforting meal through slow braising.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

“China’s No.1 Hearty Dish: Hong Shao Rou (Braised Pork Belly)”

In China, one of the most common and beloved dishes on the family dining table is braised pork belly (hong shao rou). However, the preparation of this dish varies between the northern and southern regions of China. Today, we’re sharing the Southern-style method of making braised pork belly. Here’s what it looks like when it’s done: 🍲 Ingredients: Pork belly (three parts lean to three parts fat, preferably with skin) Light soy sauce – to taste Dark soy sauce – to taste Yellow or aged rock sugar – a small handful Huangjiu (Chinese cooking wine) – to taste Salt – to taste Chicken bouillon powder – to taste (optional) Beer – one can Spring onion segments, star anise (1 piece) – to taste Ginger slices, bay leaves (3–4 leaves) – to taste 👨‍🍳 Instructions: Blanch the pork: Cut pork belly into evenly sized small cubes. Blanch in boiling water for 10 minutes to remove impurities and some excess fat. Drain and set aside. Render and caramelize: ...

Delicious Garlic Fried Spare Ribs

  Chinese Deep Fried Series  Garlic Fried Spare Ribs is a home-style dish made from pork spare ribs, marinated in garlic and deep-fried twice, featuring a crispy exterior and tender interior, with a strong garlic flavour. Time: about 20-25 minutes  Difficulty: zero cookery Ingredients : Marinated Spare Ribs  Spare Ribs      400g  Soy Sauce      10g  Wine              10g  Pepper Salt    10g  Black Pepper  1g  Salt                 1g  Garlic Batter  Plain Flour (Medium Gluten)    50g  Eggs                      2  Garlic                    30g  Salt                       1g  Fresh Water          ...

A particularly simple Chinese cold dish

Some people say that Chinese people are not of high quality, this I admit. But some people say that Chinese food is not good, this I disagree. Chinese people still have their own way of doing things when it comes to food. We can use very simple ingredients to make very tasty food. For example, you can make a simple but very tasty cold dish with spring onions and tofu. Ingredients for tofu with spring onions: Tofu 1 piece of small onion moderate amount Salt moderate amount Sesame sesame oil moderate amount (about 5g) Method: 1: Wash the tofu; small onions, wash and drain; 2: tofu into a bowl, crushed with a spoon, there are small cubes does not matter, eat better texture; 3: small onion minced, about 5 mm wide; 4: small onions into the tofu, according to taste sprinkle a little salt; 5: and then drizzle a little sesame sesame oil, sesame sesame sesame oil is the finishing touch to this dish, do not add on the bland and tasteless; mix well. Warm tips: this dish for the wine dishes. With ...