Dried noodles are wonderful in all their many forms, but there’s nothing quite like the oomph and chew of a noodle made fresh by hand. In the United States, most people eat Asian handmade noodles at restaurants that specialize in them—most prominently at Chinese or Korean restaurants where you can see noodle masters at work, shaving off pieces with a knife or pulling dough with their hands. But it’s possible to get that satisfying texture at home too. And if you’re just starting to learn how to do it, you can employ an ultrasimple technique: using scissors to cut dough into noodles.
Scissor-cut noodles, or jian dao mian, can be found in Shanxi, a northern province in China where wheat-based noodles in various forms are a staple. They’re a versatile noodle that can be used in soups or stir-fries or tossed with a hot oil-based dressing. The base dough is a simple mix of flour, water, and salt. (Read more about the magic of a 50% noodle hydration ratio.) Watch out for the texture when following this recipe: Add more water if the dough is feeling dry, more flour if it’s too wet. You need the resting time to let the dough hydrate properly, so don’t be tempted to skip that step.
Once you cut the dough, you’ll get tiny, adorable noodles that curl into themselves like shells. If you’re not keen on cutting dough directly into simmering water, cut it into a bowl, then drop the noodles into boiling water. Either way, the final result will feature a pleasing chew that falls somewhere between an al dente pasta and a gummy bear.
Use the noodles in the Three-Cup Chicken Scissor-Cut Noodles or Spicy Sausage Ragù or in any of your favorite noodle soup recipes, like this Tomato and Egg Drop Noodle Soup or a Classic Chicken Noodle Soup.
This recipe is part of Make Your Own Noodles. Check out all of the recipes—plus expert tips, handy guides, and more.
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What you’ll need
Large Bowl
$25 At Amazon
Joyce Chen Unlimited Kitchen Scissors
$25 $20 At Amazon
Plastic Wrap
$15 At Amazon
Recipe information
Total Time
35 minutes
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Mix 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and ½ cup plus 1 Tbsp. water in a large bowl with your hands until a shaggy dough comes together. Knead in bowl, incorporating any loose bits, until dough forms into a smooth ball and no longer sticks to bowl, about 2 minutes. If dough is not coming together, mix in more water ½ tsp. at a time; if dough is too sticky, mix in more flour 1 tsp. at a time. Cover bowl with a damp paper towel or plastic wrap and let dough rest at room temperature at least 15 minutes.
Step 2
Bring a medium pot of water to a simmer. Coat a pair of kitchen shears with vegetable oil and snip off ½" pieces of dough directly into simmering water. When all of dough has been snipped, increase heat and bring water to a boil. Cook noodles, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until most have floated to the surface, about 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Use right away.
Do Ahead: Dough can be made 1 day ahead; wrap tightly and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.
