Lunar New Year is one of those celebrations that quietly fills a city, even if you’re not looking for it. In Victoria, you’ll see it in red envelopes tucked into shop windows, dumplings on special menus, and families gathering for long, loud meals.
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures and families, each with their own foods, traditions, and ways of marking the season. Food is often at the centre of it all.
One dish you’ll see again and again is longevity noodles.
Long noodles are traditionally associated with long life and good fortune in the year ahead. Any long wheat noodle works here. No specialty noodles needed. Just avoid cutting them. They’re cooked gently, kept as intact as possible, and eaten without cutting. Less about rules, more about intention. A good thing to start the year with.
This version is simple, flexible, and very doable on a weeknight. No specialty equipment. No hard-to-find ingredients. Just a warm bowl of comfort food.
What You’ll Need (Serves 2–3)
- 225–280 g dried wheat noodles or fresh Chinese egg noodles
- 30 ml neutral oil
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
- 3 scallions, sliced (separate whites and greens)
- 75–100 g mushrooms, sliced (shiitake, cremini, or whatever you have)
- About 60 g leafy greens (bok choy, napa cabbage, or even spinach)
Sauce
- 30 ml soy sauce
- 5 ml dark soy (optional, for colour)
- 5 ml sesame oil
- 5 ml sugar or honey
- 30–45 ml reserved noodle cooking water
Optional add-ins: shrimp, leftover roast chicken, tofu, or a soft-boiled egg
How to Make It
Cook the noodles
Boil until just tender. Don’t overcook. Reserve some of the cooking water, then drain.
Build the flavour
Heat oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and scallion whites. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add vegetables
Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Stir in leafy greens and let them wilt.
Bring it together
Add noodles to the pan. Pour in the sauce and a splash of reserved noodle water. Toss gently to coat everything without breaking the noodles.
Finish
Drizzle with sesame oil. Taste and adjust. Top with scallion greens and any add-ins you like.
A Note on Sharing This Dish
Longevity noodles show up in many forms, depending on family, region, and tradition. This is not a definitive version, just one approachable way to bring the spirit of the dish to your table.
Wishing you a long, healthy, and well-fed year ahead.