Ban Mian 面粉馃

Ban Mian 面粉馃 (Soup Base)

Its been some time since my last post and I felt really bad about it because I should and I could have write more but I am just plain lazy and unmotivated. So, today I am gonna write a quick post about a dish that has a special place in my heart and I can say its one of my comfort food. This dish never fails to put a smile on my face whenever I see it on my dining table.

Ban Mian is also know as Min Fan Gao (in cantonese) and its quite a popular dish in Malaysia and Singapore. In Singapore, the dough its more commonly found in noodles type whereas in Malaysia it comes in different odd  shapes and most importantly it must be FLAT!

The preparation for this dish is divided into 3 parts; the dough, the condiments and the soup.

Ingredients:

Soup:
For quick and easy soup, you can just use those cube anchovies. 1 cube can make a pot of soup enough for 3 pax. For healthier version, you can check out how to make soup using Fried Anchovies.

Condiments for my Ban Mian

Condiments:
Cai Xin - blanch
Anchovies - Fried till crispy
Minced Meat - Marinated with oyster sauce
Meat Balls
Chilli Padi
Minced Garlic
Mushroom (Optional)
Eggs (Optional)

Dough:
Plain flour
Water
Salt

When I was googling for other Ban Mian recipe online, I realized that mine was lacking of mushroom and egg, which I think its really important to this dish. Well, when I have time to have another go and this dish, I'm gonna make sure I don't miss them out again!

Instructions:

Kneading of dough (a video will be updated soon for easier reference)

Soup:

Heat up a medium sized pot with some oil

Sauteed minced garlic till fragrant and pour in 3 bowl of water (750ml to 1 litre)
Put in 1 anchovy cube and let it boil for 20 minutes
Put in meat balls to boil and set aside

Preparation of condiments:

Boil a pot of water and put in some salt

Blanch cai xin and set aside

Marinate minced meat with 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and add in 1 teaspoon of flour. Scoop minced meat in a ball shape and boil it in hot water for 5 minutes and set aside.

Fried anchovies and set aside.

Ready to cook!
Bring a small pot and place in soup

Heat up and start putting the dough (by pulling small pieces from the main dough and flatten it) into the soup

When the dough starts to float up, (it indicates that the dough is cooked) start putting in all the condiments except for the crispy anchovies

Let it boil for one last time and scoop up
Put in the fried anchovies and its ready to serve!

There you go.. My comfort food.. Is it yours as well??