STEAMED COLD NOODLES with SESAME or 凉(Liáng) 皮(Pí)

MAIN INGREDIENTS: flour; cucumbers; bean sprouts; garlic sauce; chili oil; and sesame.

TASTE and TEXTURE: steamed cold noodle skins offer a smooth texture accompanied by a strong garlic flavor and chili oil seasoning.

HISTORY: the legend of 凉(Liáng) 皮(Pí) is set 2000 years ago during the Qin Dynasty, when after a particularly heavy drought, farmers were unable to meet the annual rice production quota imposed by the Qin Court. With the threat of the Emperor’s justice looming, a clever man named Li took what little rice he was able to harvest ground it down into powder, which he then used to make dough. He steamed the dough, cut it into noodle-thin slices to mix with different sauces. Li presented these noodles to Emperor Qin, who was so taken with Li’s new dish that he ordered it every day thenceforth, and thus established what would become a traditional noodle dish.