Cold sesame noodles with cucumber and egg ribbons
Springy noodles rinsed cold and piled with cucumber and egg ribbons under a rich sesame dressing — a refreshing start to a sweltering morning.
- 25 min
- Serves 2
- Toss
- Easy
Why it suits you: Yin-deficient people run hot inside, and the fierce heat of the Summer Solstice brings a dry mouth, restlessness and poor sleep. Cucumber clears heat and generates fluids, while sesame and egg nourish yin and moisten dryness, so these cold noodles are refreshing yet filling. The dressing leaves out chilli oil and pepper so as not to add fuel to the fire.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 10 min- 1Beat the eggs. Lightly oil a frying pan and cook two thin omelettes over low heat; cool, roll up and slice into fine ribbons. Cut the cucumber into matchsticks.
- 2Loosen the sesame paste with the warm water a little at a time, then stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and half the sesame oil.
- 3Cook the noodles in boiling water for 2 minutes, then rinse straight away under cold water. Drain well and toss with the remaining sesame oil to stop them sticking.
- 4Plate the noodles, top with the cucumber and egg, pour over the sauce and scatter with sesame seeds. Toss together just before eating.
Cautions
- If cold food upsets your stomach, skip the cold rinse and eat the noodles warm.
Chef's tips
- Add the warm water to the sesame paste gradually or it will turn lumpy; cook the omelettes over low heat so they don't brown.
The TCM view
Sesame is sweet and neutral, nourishing the liver and kidneys, enriching essence and blood and moistening the bowels. Egg is sweet and neutral, nourishing yin and calming the spirit. Cucumber is sweet and cool, clearing heat and generating fluids, and wheat is sweet and cool, nourishing the heart and easing restlessness. Together they nourish yin without heaviness and clear heat without chilling.
