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Meat, East Asian

Crossing the Bridge Noodles

Crossing the bridge noodles are a Chinese dish for 4 people, ready in 40 minutes, medium difficulty, for €3.30 per person. A scalding hot chicken broth arrives at the table with a thin layer of oil on top, and everyone dips in raw chicken, vegetables, egg and rice noodles that cook in seconds. Success depends on the broth being hot enough to steam.

Tonight it's a showstopper, crossing the bridge noodles, a scorching hot chicken broth where you dip in the noodles, the meat and the vegetables right at the table!

Crossing the Bridge Noodles
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
530 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

This dish from Yunnan is part meal, part performance. The chicken broth arrives steaming hot in big bowls, topped with a thin film of oil that keeps it scorching far longer than a plain broth would. At the table, everyone dips in thinly sliced chicken first, then vegetables, a raw egg and finally rice noodles, all cooking right before your eyes in just seconds.

It's a great choice for a dinner where you want to take your time, a Sunday evening or a meal with friends where everyone gets involved. Kids love watching the chicken turn white and the egg cloud up in the broth. Just know that filling all the little bowls takes some setup before you sit down, the real fun happens afterward, bowl by bowl.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Chicken broth 1.5 l
  • Rice vermicelli 250 g
  • Vegetable oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Butcher

  • Chicken breasts 300 g

Dairy

  • Eggs 4

Fruits and vegetables

  • Bean sprouts 150 g
  • Bok choy 2
  • Button mushrooms 150 g
  • Scallion 3 sprigs

Allergens Eggs, Soy, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Slice the chicken breasts into very thin strips, and cut the mushrooms and bok choy. 10 min

    Freeze the chicken for 30 minutes first, it slices perfectly that way.

  2. Soak the rice vermicelli in hot water, then drain them. 5 min

    They soften almost instantly in hot water.

  3. Arrange the chicken, vegetables and cracked raw eggs in small bowls, and the vermicelli in serving bowls.

    Everyone gets their own bowl set up at the table.

  4. Bring the broth to a boil with the oil and soy sauce, then pour it into large bowls. 5 min

    A thin layer of oil on top keeps the broth boiling hot for longer.

  5. At the table, everyone dips first the chicken, then the vegetables, the egg and finally the vermicelli into their bowl.

    Eat right after each addition, the meat cooks in just a few seconds.

Our tips to get it right

  • Slice the chicken as thin as you possibly can, that's what lets it cook instantly in the scalding broth.
  • Fill all the small bowls before heating the broth, once you're at the table everything needs to move fast.
  • Use a broth that's well seasoned and piping hot from the start, a lukewarm broth will never properly cook the raw ingredients.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for peeled shrimp, they cook just as fast in the hot broth.
  • For a vegetarian version, use a well seasoned vegetable broth and swap the chicken for thin slices of firm tofu.
  • For impatient kids, you can lightly pre cook the chicken and vegetables in a pan before adding them to the broth.

What to serve it with

  • Hot green tea
  • Extra steamed vegetables
  • A tangy cucumber salad

Storage

Store the broth and raw ingredients separately in the fridge, in sealed containers, for up to 2 days. Don't freeze raw eggs or noodles that have already been soaked. Bring the broth back to a boil before serving this dish again.

Questions about this dish

Can you prep the small bowls ahead of time?

Yes, you can slice the chicken and cut the vegetables a few hours ahead. Keep everything covered in the fridge, and crack the eggs only at the last moment.

Why does the broth need to be so hot?

The heat of the broth is what cooks the raw chicken and egg in just seconds. A lukewarm broth would leave the ingredients undercooked.

Can you swap the rice vermicelli for something else?

You can use wider rice noodles or thin egg noodles instead. The key is that they cook quickly once dropped into the hot broth.

Is this dish good for kids?

Yes, kids generally love watching the ingredients cook right in front of them. Just make sure they dip the chicken in first so it has enough time to cook.

How long does it take to make a bowl of crossing the bridge noodles?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a bowl of crossing the bridge noodles?

About 530 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a bowl of crossing the bridge noodles cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs, soy, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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