Laiyuan Buckwheat Noodles

Laiyuan Oat Noodles

　　Oat Noodles: To prepare oat noodles, the oats must first be roasted, then ground into flour. The flour is then scalded with boiling water, kneaded into rolls, and steamed—this process is known as the "three cookings." When served with side dishes, they offer a uniquely delicious taste.

　　Oats are a typical highland crop, widely cultivated in cool-climate plateau regions. The northern Shanxi region and Inner Mongolia are famous for their “oat noodles with potatoes,” while the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area of Hebei has various ways of preparing oat noodles. The area north of Laiyuan County sits at higher altitudes and has a tradition of growing oats, so locals' fondness for oat noodles is as strong and heartfelt as people on the plains enjoy steamed buns or dumplings. Common ways to eat oat noodles include oat rolls, known in Shanxi as "cat’s ear rolls." Other popular methods include hand-rolled oat noodles, oat pancake slices, and oat cat’s ears. Among all these, oat rolls are the most beloved and tasty. The process of making oat rolls is quite fun: oat flour is mixed with boiling water to form a dough similar to dumpling dough, then small pieces (about the size of a dumpling wrapper) are pinched off, placed on a smooth stone slab made of white marble or marble, and rolled into thin sheets before being coiled into rolls. These rolls are then lined up in a steamer basket, resembling a nest of wasp combs—quite a sight. Once steamed, the rolls are ready to be served with various dips. Different areas have their own versions of the dip: Inner Mongolia and the Zhangjiakou-Chengde region typically use shredded mutton, while in Laiyuan, common dips include shredded pork with wild mushrooms, tomato and egg, or potato strips with tofu. Some people even enjoy a uniquely pungent dip made from fermented wild greens cooked with tofu, and others prefer cold soups made with shredded cucumber or radish. It’s worth noting that oat noodles are high in protein and low in starch, making them a healthy low-sugar food, perfect for those with diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.