Heyang's special snack - Noodles

Noodles have a lot of origins. According to legend, in the third year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (204 BC), King Bao of Wei in Hedong rebelled, and Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty ordered Han Xin to lead the army to suppress it. The army was stationed in the western plateau of Heyang. It was midsummer and the military situation was urgent. In order to solve the feeding problem of many soldiers, Han Xian ordered the peasant women along the river to bake flatbreads with buckwheat and wheat flour that were abundant in the area, cut them into strips, and distributed them to the soldiers. When the meal was served, they were boiled in boiling water and eaten. Convenient and fast. There is a saying that the earliest instant noodles with a record of history in China should be Yuan noodles. Buckwheat noodles can relieve heat and diuresis, have the effect of relieving fatigue and dehumidification, and are very popular among the soldiers. Han Xin led his army to cross the Yellow River eastward with wooden poppies in Xiayang, Qiachuan Province, and annihilated the Wei King's rebels in one fell swoop. Later, this noodle recipe pioneered by Han Xin was preserved in the western Qiachuan Plain and Fangzhen area, and gradually became a unique snack in Heyang today.

Noodles are made from buckwheat noodles and are divided into five processes: grinding, kneading, spreading, cutting, and the following.

People who sell buckwheat noodles pay attention to doing it themselves, sorting out the buckwheat and grinding it into fine noodles.

When kneading the dough, use a large porcelain basin that can hold forty or fifty kilograms. Add water to the flour, and use a thick wooden stick to stir in the same direction. This is a key step, it must be thin and thick. Properly, stir evenly. The better the batter is, the better the noodles will be.

The stall uses iron spatulas, which weigh more than 40 kilograms and are more than two feet in diameter. Pour a spoonful of the mixed batter into the center of the pan, and use a half-moon-shaped wooden spatula to spread it out. It is said that this is how the noodles got their name.

After a while, when one side is hardened by fire, turn it over and bake the other side. Fold until it is about 70% cooked. Fold them together, fold them into four folds, and cut them into thin strips with a knife. Pay attention to the width of the cuts. Just like the thickness of the dough, only when the four edges are clear can the skill show. The cut noodles are kept in wooden boxes for later use.

When eating, boil the water and add a little salt to prevent the noodles from becoming sticky in the pot. Grab a handful of cut noodles and put them into the pot. Use chopsticks to stir the noodles and scoop them out. When outsiders see this, they always doubt whether the noodles are cooked. In fact, there is no need to worry, because it has been seared to 70% or 80% on the griddle, and then blanched in boiling soup, it will be completely cooked. Either dry or with soup, it's up to you. You have to use your hands to catch some fish meal with a strainer, and then mix in big oil (white oil), big oil chili (red oil), clear oil chili, salt, vinegar, Dip in some Sichuan peppercorn noodles, sprinkle with a pinch of green onion or chive flowers, and it's ready to eat. Oil is essential when eating buckwheat noodles. Add oil to make buckwheat noodles soft and delicious. Firstly, outsiders think the buckwheat noodles look dark and unattractive; secondly, they are afraid of not being familiar with them; thirdly, they are intimidated by the red oil chili peppers, but if they eat a bowl, they will find it delicious, and they will stick to the ribs in their mouths and smell delicious in their stomachs. Only then did we know why people in Heyang have deep feelings for Xiangmian. People in Heyang, regardless of gender, all old and young, like to eat Noodles. When going to the market, two bowls of Noodles are indispensable. Everyone eats with a mouth full of oil. Even the eldest daughter and daughter-in-law who are well-dressed do not feel embarrassed at all. On the contrary, they are I feel like this is where the taste comes out. During the Spring Festival, many families specially order dozens of kilograms of red oil chili peppers to entertain relatives and friends; when receiving guests from out of town, noodles are an indispensable part of the dinner table.

You can eat noodles in all parts of Heyang. Fangzhen noodles are known as authentic, and there are many experts.