Learner Spark: Scallion Oil Noodles by Jie

The Literacy Center is pleased to share an excerpt of the Learner Spark, Issue No. 5, available as a free PDF download. Learner Spark is a learner-written magazine that features original stories, poems, and recipes written by adult learners across Literacy Center programs. This unique submission is a recipe from one of our Medical Assistant training learners, which we enjoyed during our last day of class celebration. Consider becoming a volunteer literacy coach today to support adult learners like Jie!

This recipe is unbelievably fragrant and seriously delicious! Adding a little sugar makes the flavor richer and slightly sweet, but not greasy or overpowering. Combined with the strong aroma of scallions and noodles fully coated in sauce, it tastes amazing. 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 jin (about 500g/1 lb) noodles 

1 bunch scallions (green onions) 

4 tbsp light soy sauce 

2 tbsp dark soy sauce 

2 tbsp white sugar 

White sesame seeds

INSTRUCTIONS: 

1. Wash the scallions, drain well, and cut them into sections. 

2. Make the sauce: mix together light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar until combined. This amount was perfect for about 1 jin (1 lb) of noodles—not too sweet or too salty. If you don’t like sweetness, just add a tiny bit of sugar to enhance the flavor. 

3. Add oil to a wok or pan. Once the oil is hot, add the scallions and fry them. Make sure the scallions are dry, otherwise the oil may splatter. 

4. Fry for less than a minute, until the scallions become browned and release their aroma. Then turn off the heat and let the oil cool slightly. 

5. After cooling for about 2 minutes, pour in the sauce mixture. Simmer on low heat for several seconds until it starts to boil. No need to transfer it to a bowl—just keep it warm in the pan using the residual heat. 

6. Cook the noodles. While the oil was cooling, I started boiling the noodles to save time. These noodles take a while to cook, so I boiled them for about 10 minutes. 

7. Once cooked, rinse the noodles briefly with cold water. I used bottled water, but you can also use cooled boiled water. 

8. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles, add some chopped scallions and white sesame seeds, then mix well and enjoy!