Prepare this quick and easy Chinese Noodle Soup using pantry staples, water, and a few fresh ingredients from your fridge.
A Simple Chinese Noodle Soup Without the Work
We feature a variety of delicious noodle soup recipes on our blog, including Kaitlin’s Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, Vietnamese Pho, and Laksa. While these dishes are certainly achievable, they often require a significant amount of time and a long list of ingredients.
Even food bloggers need quick, no-fuss recipes that can be thrown together in mere minutes with items already on hand. This recipe fits the bill perfectly—no meat to thaw and minimal cooking involved! Simply boil the dried noodles and vegetables, and fry an egg. It’s a dish that requires little to no culinary expertise.
Cooking for one can be challenging, but this Chinese noodle soup recipe offers a satisfying solution, whether you’re preparing a single serving or a larger batch.
Creating Flavor
You might be curious about the flavor profile of this noodle soup. The combination of seasonings—light soy sauce, sesame oil, black vinegar, white pepper, and salt—creates a surprisingly rich base.
Fresh tomatoes contribute both brightness and umami. If you freeze seasonal tomatoes, you can enjoy their flavor year-round! We often freeze tomatoes from our garden during the summer months.
Adding a sprinkle of scallions or cilantro enhances the flavor even further! (We also keep these herbs in our freezer—check out our guide on how to freeze herbs and aromatics.)
For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding dried shrimp flakes (xiāpí). They bring a salty bite and savory depth to the dish, but you can easily omit them for a vegetarian option.
This recipe takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. If you’re looking for an easy, comforting meal with minimal cooking, this is the perfect choice!
Recipe Instructions
- In your noodle bowl, combine the chopped tomato, salt, white pepper, light soy sauce, sesame oil, black vinegar, dried shrimp flakes (if using), and scallions (or cilantro).
- Preheat a pan or wok until it begins to smoke, then add oil to coat the surface. Fry the egg to your desired doneness, plate it, and set aside.
- Bring water to a boil in a medium pot (or wok), then add the noodles. When the noodles are nearly cooked, transfer 1½ cups of the noodle cooking water to the bowl with the seasonings. Add the leafy greens to the pot with the noodles. Once everything is cooked, combine them in the bowl. Top with the fried egg, and enjoy!
