Tainan Noodles Recipe (4-Ingredients Asian Noodles) (2024)

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A flavorful Chinese noodle dish made with simple ingredients and seasonings. This Tainan noodles recipe is the perfect last-minute recipe idea on busy nights. It's an easy recipe for when you are not in the mood for cooking, but don't want to eat canned food.

This Asian noodle dish recipe is inspired by one of the noodle products sold at Costco, Tainan-style noodles by Asha. It has the perfect seasoning made of soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.

You can serve this dry Tainan noodle by itself or with the toppings of your choice, such as egg or rotisserie chicken. Either way, these Tainan noodles will satisfy your hunger without extra work, and an added bonus is that it’s very budget-friendly.

Tainan Noodles Recipe (4-Ingredients Asian Noodles) (1)

This easy dry noodles recipe can be ready and on the dinner table in about 15 minutes. No chopping, no stir-frying, and very little preparation! The perfect easy meal for college students!

Don't throw away your leftovers, as you can pack this noodle dish for lunch or put it in the freezer to extend its shelf life.

Tainan Noodles Recipe (4-Ingredients Asian Noodles) (2)

Tainan Noodles Ingredients:

For best results, use fresh Chinese lo-mein style noodles (the same noodles that people use to make Dan Dan noodles). I understand that many of you may not have access to Asian dried pasta, so spaghetti or even tagliatelle would work great. If you are going to use dried pasta, be sure to add about ¼ teaspoon of baking soda per quart of water when cooking the pasta. It will give it a bouncier texture, and a flavor that’s similar to Chinese noodles.

Please note that noodle brands vary so much from one to the next. For that reason, you may need to make a few adjustments on the recipe ingredients to reach the desired taste.

Tainan Noodles Recipe (4-Ingredients Asian Noodles) (3)

Now, let's talk about the seasoning. The noodle is seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. So simple, isn't it?

To add an extra kick of spiciness, feel free to add your favorite hot sauce to this dish. Sriracha sauce or Sichuan chili oil both work quite nicely.

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How to Make this Tainan Noodle Dish:

As I mentioned above, this dish doesn't require cooking skills nor a long cooking time. You only need to cook the pasta until al dente, then mix it in with the soy-based seasoning.

Tainan Noodles Recipe (4-Ingredients Asian Noodles) (4)

I've tried this recipe using different types of noodles and always had to make small adjustments to the amount of soy sauce and sugar. Therefore, I am going to list a lesser amount of those ingredients as a starting point for the noodles. If you think they still need some extra seasoning, feel free to adjust the amount of soy sauce, sugar, or salt until you reach your desire taste.

Another important thing to remember is that it's better to let the noodles soak in the soy sauce and absorb those wonderful flavors for a few minutes before serving.

I really hope that you'll enjoy this basic yet flavorful noodle dish recipe.

📖 Recipe

5 from 9 votes

Tainan Noodles

Rika

A flavorful Chinese noodle dish made with simple ingredients and seasonings. This Asian comfort food, Tainan noodles recipe is the perfect last-minute recipe idea on busy nights or when you are not in the mood for cooking.

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Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 2

Calories 207 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 oz noodles, (Lo-mein style noodles, thin noodles or Spaghetti)
  • ¾ - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon white sugar
  • 2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • salt and pepper, (to taste)

Optional Toppings:

  • chopped green onions

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions.

    Note: If you are going to use dried pasta, be sure to add about ¼ teaspoon of baking soda per quart of water when cooking the pasta.

  • In a medium-size bowl, whisk togethersoy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.

  • Drain the noodles and transfer to a bowl. Toss to coat the noodles with sauce. Taste and adjust the ingredients or use salt/pepper as needed.

    Let the noodles soak in the soy sauce and absorb those wonderful flavors for a few minutes before serving.

  • Serve with chopped green onions or any toppings of your choice. Enjoy!

Notes

If more soy sauce is needed, add by small increments of 1 teaspoon at a time. To add saltiness to the dish, just add a small amount of salt. Do not go overboard with soy sauce or all you’ll taste is soy sauce.

If more sugar is needed, add by small increments of ¼ teaspoon at a time.

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 7gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 882mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tainan Noodles Recipe (4-Ingredients Asian Noodles) (2024)

FAQs

What is the ingredients in Chinese noodles? ›

Chinese noodles are generally made from either wheat flour, rice flour, or mung bean starch, with wheat noodles being more commonly produced and consumed with the ancient wooden noodles mold technology in northern China and rice noodles being more typical of southern China.

What are the ingredients in a sha tainan style noodles? ›

Noodle Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Water, Salt. Sauce Packet Ingredients: Soy Sauce (Water, Sugar, Salt, Soybean, Wheat, Caramel Color, Yeast Extract, Malic Acid), Sesame Paste, White Sesame Oil (Soy Oil, Sesame Oil), Citric Acid.

What to add to a sha tainan noodle? ›

While A-Sha noodles are delicious on their own, nothing beats dressing them up with a perfectly boiled egg paired with your favorite proteins and veggies.

How do you cook noodles from a packet? ›

Bring 2½ cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes. Add the flavor packet, stir, and continue to cook for another 30 seconds.

How long to cook packaged noodles? ›

It typically takes around 3-4 minutes for a package of instant noodles to cook in the microwave because you don't need to wait for the water to boil like on the stovetop. To tell when noodles are cooked through, look for bendy, plump noodles that twist easily with a fork or chopsticks.

What is the most common Chinese noodles? ›

Rice Noodles (米粉 Mǐ Fěn)

Vermicelli is one of the most commonly-known types of rice-based noodle in the West. Despite the broad term, there are technically different types of rice noodles found in Chinese cuisine. These can include ho fun, lai fun, mi xian, vermicelli and many more provincial specialties.

What is the difference between Chinese noodles and lo mein noodles? ›

First, the main difference between the two is the type of wheat used to make them. Lo mein noodles are typically made from wheat flour, eggs, and water, whereas regular noodles can be made from a variety of grains, including wheat, rice, or mung beans. Second, the texture of the noodles is different.

Where did tainan noodles come from? ›

Ta-a mi (Chinese: 擔仔麵; pinyin: dànzǎimiàn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tàⁿ-á-mī; lit. 'shoulder pole noodle'), also known as Ta-a noodles or danzai noodles, is a type of snack found in Tainan, Taiwan. Also known as "Slack Season Ta-a Noodles", they originated in Tainan (in southern Taiwan), about 130 years ago.

How long do you cook a sha tainan noodles? ›

Not cooking the noodles to at least the recommended cooking time typically yields a slimy, doughy consistency of under-cooked noodle similar to when a pasta is not cooked all the way through. The cooking time varies per noodle; Tainan 2 mins, Mandarin 3 mins, Hakka 4 mins, Knife cut 5 mins.

What is the sauce in A-Sha noodles? ›

This is the basic A-sha noodle experience, featuring the chewy, thin Tainan noodles and the house sauce packet, which is a straightforward blend of soy sauce and sesame oil.

What are the ingredients in a sha noodles original flavor sauce? ›

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Original Flavor is just what it says... the original flavor! Soy Sauce (Water, Sugar, Salt, Soybean, Wheat, Caramel Color, Yeast Extract, Malic Acid), White Sesame Oil (Soybean Oil, Sesame Oil).

What do Japanese people put in their noodles? ›

There are many different kinds of Japanese ramen noodles, but they're generally long, thin and made from wheat. The noodles are typically served in a hot broth loaded with toppings such as egg, seaweed, slices of pork, and local seasonal vegetables.

How do you cook premade noodles? ›

Once the water is boiling, gently add the noodle block to the pot. Use a fork or chopsticks to separate the noodles gently, ensuring they don't stick together. Let the noodles cook for the time specified on the package, usually around 2-4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the noodles.

How to cook ready made noodles? ›

Prepare a cup of noodles by peeling back the lid and adding boiling water. Once the noodles are cooked, stir and enjoy them. A package of noodles can be prepared on the stove. Once the noodles have been cooked, remove them from the heat and serve them immediately.

How do you make packaged noodles taste better? ›

What Can I Add to Instant Ramen To Make It Better?
  1. Switch up Your Broth. The first thing is to change up your broth. ...
  2. Add an Egg. ...
  3. Toss in Some Veggies. ...
  4. Stir in Togarashi Chili Pepper or Chili Oil. ...
  5. Add a Splash of Soy Sauce. ...
  6. Add Some Peanut Butter. ...
  7. Peruse Your Spice Cabinet. ...
  8. Butter and Brown Sugar.

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