Zherong Red Yeast Loach Noodles

Zherong Red Yeast Loach Noodles

　　On a cold winter day, a bowl of red yeast loach noodles steams gently before your eyes. With its vibrant red broth and enticing aroma, it delivers a taste full of warmth and happiness. Originating from Ningde, these noodles are a traditional dish with over 600 years of history, commonly found in counties such as Zhouning, Shouning, Pingnan, and Zherong in Ningde.

　　The ingredients for red yeast loach noodles can be kept simple or prepared with great care. For the loaches, those found in the muddy edges of rice fields are best, as compared to river loaches, their bones are softer and the meat more tender. As for the red yeast, aged varieties are preferred for their bright red color and rich wine aroma—just the scent alone is intoxicating.

　　Having consulted housewives, cooking methods vary, especially when it comes to preparing the loaches. Here are a few tips. Fresh loaches are ideal; if you’ve caught small ones by the field, rinse them with clean water while preserving their natural sliminess to ensure good texture. If the loaches are from the river, removing the earthy smell requires a bit more finesse: crack an egg into a basin, add some vegetable oil and red wine, stir well, then pour in the cleaned loaches. This method works because the egg makes the loach meat tender and smooth, the vegetable oil helps expel impurities from the loaches’ bodies, and the red wine aids in removing the fishy odor.

　　When cooking, start with cold water in the pot to maintain the loaches’ tender flesh. First bring it to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat to let the wine aroma infuse the loaches, allowing the noodles to absorb both the richness and the wine fragrance. Some housewives lightly fry the red yeast in oil first, filling the kitchen with its aroma, then pour in cold water, add the loaches, and finally the noodles. Those who prefer a richer flavor can cook it this way.

　　It’s said that the loach noodles from Zherong County in Ningde rank among the best. Their most distinctive feature is the careful selection of loaches, with soft, melt-in-your-mouth fish bones. On a winter day, savoring a bowl of the famed Zherong red yeast loach noodles can make life feel vivid and flavorful, even in the chill of winter. (By Xie Taojing)

　　Source: People's Government of Fujian Province