Beef ho fun / gon chow ngau ho


Gon chow ngau ho is a Cantonese noodle dish made from fresh wide noodles , stir-fried together with beef , beansprouts and soy sauce . The important factor in cooking this dish is the " wok hei " , simply means stir-frying food in a very hot flame / heat using a seasoned wok , this imparts a distinctive taste to the food during stir-frying . I , for one , don't give a hoot about wok hei , as long as the noodles don't turn mushy because of over stirring , which I do most of the time and I can eat the noodles with a chopstick instead of spoon lol
   

The one I have here is nearly the same in both ingredients and taste to what I was buying years ago . Except for the sauce that I always use when cooking this dish and can't be classified as wet-fried beef ho fun . Depending on the cook or chef , ingredients varies , the authentic style uses wide noodles , beef , beansprouts , onion , soy sauce and oil . Oil is very important beside cooking this noodles in high heat as it serves as a liquid ( beside the soy sauce ) to separate the noodles while stir-frying since no water is used ( or maybe some also add a splash of water ) . The trick when cooking this at home is to use nonstick wok or pan , minimal stirring and toss the noodles using a chopstick . If you can lift the wok , move it back and forth and stir . Though it can't compare to the Chinese chef's gon chow ngau , by making it at home , you can customize the ingredients to whatever suits you , use less meat and add any kinds of vegetables which I sometimes do . You can use pork , chicken and shrimp if beef is not to your liking as long as you won't call it gon chow NGAU ho ! 


Serves 4

1 pound fresh wide rice noodles , separate each strands
180 grams thinly-sliced beef shin
120 grams Chinese chives , cut into 2-inch lengths
2 cups beansprouts
1/2 onion , sliced
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 clove garlic , minced

For the sauce :

6 tablespoon water
1 1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
2 teaspoon oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chicken powder

chiili-garlic sauce to serve

* Marinate beef with a dash of ground white pepper , generous pinch of salt , 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil and 1/2 teaspoon tapioca starch , set aside . In a small bowl , combine ingredients for the sauce .

* In a wok , heat 2 teaspoon oil over high heat , add in ginger and and garlic , stir-fry for 20 seconds then add in the beef , cook for 1 minute or until beef changes color . Transfer beef to a plate , add oil if necessary , add in the sliced onion , cook for 2 minutes then add in the chives , cook for another 2 minutes , transfer to a plate with the beef . In the same pan , pour in 1 tablespoon oil ( oil should be hot before adding the noodles ) add in the noodles and cook over high heat for 4 minutes , tossing the noodles from time to time to prevent burning the bottom , use a pair of chopstick in one hand and  a metal spatula on the other hand to toss the noodles . The noodles will clump together as it cooks , but it'll separate on its own once you added the sauce . Add in the cooked beef , chives and the beansprouts , stir to combine then pour in the sauce ; cook and toss noodles for another 2 minutes , season with salt , if necessary .  Serve immediately . 



This post is linked to the Little Thumbs Up , a cooking and baking bloghop event organized by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Favourite DIY . I'm the host this month and the theme is Pasta and Noodles . If you want to join , all you have to do is to cook or bake any recipe with this month's theme ingredient . Remember that only your January pasta / noodle posts will be accepted . Please visit this page .

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Comments

  1. Good morning Anne,
    I ate local fried kue tiu for breakfast this morning.
    I would love to have yours for lunch later :D
    Oh yes! The wok hei gives the gou chow ngau hor a special taste.
    Yours looks hóu hóu mei!
    mui

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  2. Hi Anne,

    Your wokking skill is excellent! If you are flexing your muscles to cook this again, can you keep a plate for me? :p

    Zoe

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  3. I love beef hor fun! Yours look so delicious!

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  4. Hi Anne, I love Gon chow ngau ho too! Wish I can have some now :)

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  5. Hi Ann,
    Oh my favourite beef hor fun ! Must be delicious!

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  6. Used to have this almost every day! I miss it terribly! Yours looks really great, Anne.

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  7. the type of food I would love to eat for my lunch! or supper!

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  8. Look very yum! Thanks for the add Ann. Nice blog! Makes me mouth water now! Need to go shopping tomorrow.

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