Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles

Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles

　　  Fish-shaped noodles aren’t actually fish—they’re a type of noodle dish from the Huaibei region. When scooped into the pot, each noodle is uniformly shaped, tapering to a point at one end, resembling a small fish. Because of their shape, locals call this dish “fish-shaped noodles.” In Double-Heap, some people also call “Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles” “Lazy Man’s Soup,” which ties into a story. On the eve of the Huaihai Campaign’s Double-Heap Battle, the Liu-Deng Army advanced toward Double-Heap. A company commander, separated from his unit, came to a local home one day looking for a meal. The male homeowner, who was bedridden, told the soldier that he had been ill for days, spent all the family’s money, and run out of food. His wife had left early in the morning to borrow grain from her parents’ home dozens of miles away. Upon learning that the visitor was from the Liu-Deng Army, the man searched his home for something edible and finally found only about half a bowl of flour. Having never cooked before, the man mashed the flour into a paste, then scooped small amounts into boiling water bit by bit. He added a few vegetable leaves, salt, and some chopped scallions and garlic, then served the dish to the soldier. The soldier ended up eating two big bowls. After the meal, the soldier asked about the area and wondered how a man could make something so delicious. The homeowner sheepishly replied, “Men usually don’t cook at home, let alone stir-fry. When my wife isn’t around, I can only make this extremely simple ‘lazy man’s soup.’” The soldier gave the homeowner two silver dollars. The couple used these two silver dollars as capital to open a snack stall selling “Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles” in Suzhou City. Their business grew bigger and bigger, eventually becoming a well-known large noodle restaurant.

　　 “Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles” is one of the most simple and traditional staple foods among the people. In recent years, it has appeared on the menus of upscale restaurants, becoming a must-order dish for many diners.

　　 Making “Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles” is very simple. Scoop some flour into a bowl, add an appropriate amount of water and salt, and mash it into a paste. Boil water, then use chopsticks to scoop the mashed flour paste, one spoonful at a time, into the boiling water. Once in the hot water, the paste solidifies into shapes resembling various sizes of river fish or eggs. After the noodles are cooked in the pot, add an appropriate amount of salt, oil, and seasonings before serving. If you add one or two eggs while mashing the flour, the noodles will turn out softer and fluffier.

　　 In Double-Heap, some people also call “Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles” “Lazy Man’s Soup,” which ties into a story. On the eve of the Huaihai Campaign’s Double-Heap Battle, the Liu-Deng Army advanced toward Double-Heap. A company commander, separated from his unit, came to a local home one day looking for a meal. The male homeowner, who was bedridden, told the soldier that he had been ill for days, spent all the family’s money, and run out of food. His wife had left early in the morning to borrow grain from her parents’ home dozens of miles away. Upon learning that the visitor was from the Liu-Deng Army, the man searched his home for something edible and finally found only about half a bowl of flour. Having never cooked before, the man mashed the flour into a paste, then scooped small amounts into boiling water bit by bit. He added a few vegetable leaves, salt, and some chopped scallions and garlic, then served the dish to the soldier. The soldier ended up eating two big bowls. After the meal, the soldier asked about the area and wondered how a man could make something so delicious. The homeowner sheepishly replied, “Men usually don’t cook at home, let alone stir-fry. When my wife isn’t around, I can only make this extremely simple ‘lazy man’s soup.’” The soldier gave the homeowner two silver dollars. The couple used these two silver dollars as capital to open a snack stall selling “Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles” in Suzhou City. Their business grew bigger and bigger, eventually becoming a well-known large noodle restaurant.

　　 “Double-Heap Fish-Shaped Noodles” can be made either with meat or vegetarian. Whether the noodles are meaty or vegetarian generally depends on the ingredients and seasonings used. For a vegetarian version, ingredients such as green vegetables or spinach are used, and the oil is typically small-milled sesame oil. For a meat version, ingredients like diced or shredded meats can be added, and the oil is mainly animal fat, with a small amount of sesame oil for added flavor. The broth used to cook the noodles is also important—nowadays, it’s often made from a rich stock of pork bones, beef bones, or lamb frames.