Filled with savory umami flavor, Longevity Noodles are seasoned with vegan oyster sauce and tossed with shiitake mushrooms, bok choy and scallions. Vegan & gluten-free adaptable.
And now we welcome a new year, full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Longevity noodles, also known as Yi Mein noodles (伊面), are a traditional Chinese dish served during festive celebrations like Chinese New Year, birthdays, and weddings to symbolize long life, happiness, and prosperity.
What are Longevity Noodles?
Long-life noodles are known for their long, uncut length, representing the eater’s life—it is believed that the longer the noodles are, the longer and healthier one’s life will be.
In our recipe, longevity noodles are seasoned with a homemade Vegan Oyster Sauce and tossed with shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and scallions. Variations are endless so feel free to adapt!
A simple dish with the most satisfying balance of flavors and textures. Make it with soba noodles or rice noodles to keep it gluten-free, add the veggies you like, make it spicy or keep it mild. We love it topped with our chili crisp!
Why You’ll Love this
- Layers of delicious flavor! These noodles are filled with savory umami flavor.
- Vegan and gluten-free adaptable. This plant-based recipe can be made gluten-free with soba noodles or rice noodles and gluten-free soy sauce.
- So versatile! Add any veggies you’d like and adjust the spice level to your preference.
Longevity Noodles Recipe Ingredients
- Dry noodles: For gluten-free, use buckwheat soba noodles or rice noodles.
- Vegan oyster sauce: Use homemade if possible, but if you use store-bought you’ll need less as it has a higher sodium content. Start with 1 tablespoon.
- Soy sauce: Substitute with gluten-free soy sauce or tamari if needed.
- Toasted sesame oil
- Rice vinegar
- Mirin: Or more rice vinegar.
- White pepper– or sub black pepper
- Shallot: Cut into thin slices.
- Fresh ginger: Minced.
- Garlic: About 4-5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced.
- Shiitake mushrooms: Thinly sliced.
- Bok choy: Thinly sliced. Napa cabbage would also work well.
- Scallions/green onions: Cut the white tips into small pieces and the green ends into longer, 1-inch pieces.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Longevity Noodles
Boil water in a large pot and get your noodles cooking. Salt the water to give the whole dish more flavor. Cook according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a small bowl whisk together vegan oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, mirin and white pepper. Set aside the sauce.
Heat up a wok or a large skillet to high heat. When it is hot add oil (we like peanut oil) add shallots and stir for a minute. Add garlic, ginger, and shiitakes, stir-fry for another minute.
Add bok choy and scallion white parts and toss for a minute. Add sauce and noodles and swirl until just heated through then add in green onion pieces.
Longevity Noodle Toppings
- Toasted Sesame seeds
- Chili flakes
- Sriracha
- Chili crisp
- Fresh cilantro
- Extra soy sauce
FAQs
You can find Yi Mein noodles at the Asian market, but keep in mind that they are made with wheat and eggs, so they are not vegan. Any noodles can work here. Use buckwheat soba or rice noodles for a gluten-free dish.
This is a wholesome, plant-based dish full of veggies. You can improve the nutritional quality of this recipe even further by using homemade vegan oyster sauce, which is lower in sugar and sodium!
The difference comes down to the noodles themselves. Traditionally, Yi Mein noodles are fried before packaging so they stay firmer. You can use any type of noodle in this dish.
Yes! Crispy tofu, sauteed shrimp, or stir-fried chicken breast would all work great!
More Favorite Noodle Recipes!
Happy Lunar New Year! Wishing you much good luck, health, and prosperity!
Print
Longevity Noodles Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: about 6 cups 1x
- Category: dinner recipe
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Filled with savory umami flavor, celebratory Longevity Noodles are seasoned with homemade vegan oyster sauce and tossed with shiitake mushrooms, bok choy and scallions. Vegan. Gluten-free adaptable.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dry noodles (soba noodles, Chinese egg noodles)
- 3 tablespoons oyster sauce (see notes if using store-bought oyster sauce) You can also purchase vegan oyster sauce or make this homemade oyster sauce.
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce ( or sub gluten-free liquid amino acids)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mirin (or more rice vinegar)
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 shallot, cut in thin slices
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced (about 4–5 cloves)
- 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 2–3 cups bok choy, thinly sliced
- 8 scallions/green onions, cut the white tips into small pieces and the green ends into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- Boil water and get your noodles cooking. Salt the water to give the whole dish more flavor. Cook according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a bowl whisk together vegan oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, mirin and white pepper. Set aside the sauce.
- Heat up a wok or a heavy skillet to high heat. When it is hot add oil (we like peanut oil) add shallots and stir for a minute. Add garlic, ginger, and shiitakes, stir-fry for another minute. Add bok choy and scallion white parts and stir for a minute. Add sauce and noodles and stir until just heated through then add in green onion pieces.
Topping suggestions: sesame seeds, chili flakes, sriracha or chili crisp, fresh cilantro and extra soy sauce for those who want it.
Notes
Noodles: Most noodles will work here. Use buckwheat soba noodles or rice noodles for gluten-free.
Store-bought oyster sauce has a higher sodium content so you will need less. Start with 1 tablespoon add more if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 289
- Sugar: 6.1 g
- Sodium: 293.8 mg
- Fat: 4.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 52.1 g
- Fiber: 3.7 g
- Protein: 9.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
I and my husband loved this recipe! So healthy and tastie! I doubled the recipe thinking we would have left overs but my husband couldn’t resist a second helping and cleaned it up! Triple next time I guess!
Happy you both enjoyed Carol!
So good. Don’t skip on the chili crisp!
Agreed that chill crisp makes almost everything better! Glad you enjoyed!
Amazing flavors and so easy to pull together. We loved and will definite Make it again.
Great to hear Carol!
I made this tonight, it was delicious! My husband loved it too, and put chile crisp on it.
Thanks Jean, so glad you liked it!