Liang Pi: Cold skin noodles (凉皮)
Liang Pi is a traditional Chinese dish featuring cold, translucent wheat flour noodles made by steaming a batter of flour, water, and salt. The noodles are served chilled with a spicy, tangy sauce made from ingredients like black rice vinegar, chili oil, garlic, and toasted sesame oil. The combination offers a chewy noodle texture paired with a fragrant, slightly sour and spicy dressing, often garnished with cucumber, coriander, fresh chili, and sesame seeds.
Ingredients
For the noodles
- 300 g all-purpose flour 2 cups
- 700 ml water 3 cups
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil for greasing the pans, generic cooking oil
For the sauce
- 1 piece cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon
- 1 star anise
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pinch fennel seeds
- 10 Sichuan peppercorn
- 120 ml water ½ cup
- 1 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 1 teaspoon of water, or potato starch
- 1 pinch salt
- 1-2 tablespoon black rice vinegar
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Chilli oil or to taste, Chinese style
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil toasted
You also need:
- cucumber cut into thin strips or grated
- Coriander chopped
- fresh chilli chopped (optional)
- sesame seeds
Instructions
Prepare the batter
- Mix flour, water and salt until smooth. Through a sieve, pour the mixture into a bowl then cover with cling film. Keep refrigerated for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Remove the bowl from the fridge. You will see a layer of clear water on top. Carefully spoon out the water, then stir the batter very well.
Steam the noodles
- Brush a thin layer of oil onto a small, light baking tray / sheet pan (see note 1). Pour in some batter to thinly cover the tray.
- Bring water to a boil in a wok (or a deep frying pan) over a high heat. Gently place the tray on the water to float. Cover with a lid. Cook for around 2 minutes until you see bubbles appear and the noodle is not sticky when touched by hand.
- Remove the tray and float it on cold water (e.g. in a sink) to cool. Peel the noodle off the tray then transfer to a chopping board. Brush a thin layer of oil on its surface. Repeat the procedure to finish the rest of the batter. Lay noodles one on top of another (see note 2).
Make the dressing
- Put Chinese cinnamon, star-anise, bay leaf, fennel seeds, Sichuan peppercorn and water in a sauce pan. Simmer for 5 minutes then add corn starch and water mixture. Remove from the heat when it becomes a bit thick. When completely cool, discard all the spices then add black rice vinegar and minced garlic.
Assemble the noodles
- Slice the noodles into strips of desired width then put into serving bowls. Garnish with cucumber, coriander, fresh chilli (if using) and sesame seeds. Pour the cooked sauce, Chinese chilli oil and sesame oil on top.
Notes
- Use small, lightweight baking trays that fit and float in your steamer or wok for easy noodle cooking.
- Steaming two trays alternately can save time: while one cooks, prepare the next with oil and batter.
- Ensure the trays are well-greased to prevent sticking, especially if not non-stick.
- Remove the clear water that forms after refrigerated batter rest before steaming to improve noodle texture.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 425
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 425kcal | 21% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.