{{Short description|Cantonese noodle dish}} {{Infobox prepared food | name = Yi mein | image = File:Lobster with soup yi fu noodles.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Lobster with e-fu noodles in Hong Kong | alternate_name = e-fu noodles, yee-fu noodles, yi noodles, yifu noodles | country = China | region = | creator = | course = | type = Chinese noodles | served = | main_ingredient = Wheat flour, eggs | variations = | calories = | other = }} {{Infobox Chinese |title=yi mein |t={{linktext|伊麵}} |s={{linktext|伊面}} |y=yī mihn |j=ji1 min6 |poj=i-mī |w=i-mien<br>I mien |p=yīmiàn<br>Yī miàn |t2={{linktext|伊府麵}} |s2={{linktext|伊府面}} |y2=yī fú mihn |j2=ji1 fu2 min6 |poj2=i-hú-mī |w2=i-fu-mien<br>I fu-mien |p2=Yī fǔmiàn }}
'''Yi mein''' or '''yimian'''<!--Chinese in infoboxes; see WP:MOS-ZH--> is a variety of flat Cantonese egg noodles made from wheat flour. They are known for their golden brown color and chewy characteristics. The slightly chewy and slightly spongy texture of the noodles is due to the lye water used in making the dough, which is then fried and dried into flat patty-like dried bricks.
==Preparation== {{More citations needed section|date=July 2021}}
The yi mein noodles available at grocery stores were pre-cooked by machines the same way as the modern instant noodles are made.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dasanjiang.biz/#instantnoodlemachinevideos|title=Modern Machine Makes Traditional Yi Mein Noodles|access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref> The noodles may be cooked a number of ways. They are boiled first, then can be stir-fried, or used in soups or salads. Good noodles maintain their elasticity, allowing the noodles to stretch and remain chewy.
===Dishes=== ''Yi mein'' noodles can be consumed directly or used in various dishes:
* Plain ''yi mein.'' * Plain ''yi mein'' with Chinese chives (韮黃). * Dried fried ''yi mein'' (乾燒伊麵), often comes with Chinese chives and shiitake mushroom. * Crab meat ''yi mein'' (蟹肉伊麵). * Lobster ''yi mein'' (龍蝦伊麵), sometimes served with cheese in Hong Kong.<ref name="ppc">{{cite web |url=http://www.pigpigscorner.com/2011/06/lobster-yee-mein-lobster-noodles.html|title=Lobster Yee Mein|work=pigpigscorner.com|date=10 June 2011|access-date=12 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=scmp-20150625>{{cite web|title=Lobster Yee Mien|url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/48-hours/article/1825170/hong-kongs-top-ten-noodle-dishes-and-where-get-them|website=www.scmp.com|date=24 June 2015 |publisher=South China Morning Post|access-date=22 October 2015}}</ref> * ''Yi mein'' with black mushrooms and eggplant. * ''Yi mein'' in soup. * ''I fu mie'', fried ''yi mein'' noodles served in sauce with vegetables, chicken or prawns.
==History== Yi mein is traditionally credited to the Qing official Yi Bingshou {{nowrap|(<small>t</small> {{lang|zh|{{linktext|伊|秉|綬}}}},}} {{nowrap|<small>s</small> {{lang|zh|{{linktext|伊|秉|绶}}}},}} ''Yī Bǐngshòu''; 1754–1815), who is taken to be their namesake ("Yi-style noodles") and who is also credited with popularizing Yangzhou fried rice.
==Traditions== When yi mein is consumed on birthdays, it is generally referred to as '''long life''' or '''longevity noodles''' or '''sau mein''' (壽麵/寿面). The Chinese character for "long" (長壽麵/长寿面) is also added as a prefix to represent "long life". Usually it is consumed with longevity buns on such occasions.{{Cn|date=July 2021}}
Yi mein is also a popular Lunar New Year dish. Tradition holds that the chef cannot cut the noodles, and each strand should be eaten whole.<ref>{{cite web |title=The complicated story behind longevity noodles, a popular Lunar New Year dish |date=19 Jan 2023 |author=Maggie Hiufu Wong |website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/longevity-noodles-lunar-new-year-hnk-intl}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Yi mein dish by peach yeung.jpg|Fisherman-style fried yi mein File:Cheese cream sauce baked with lobster.jpg|Western- and Chinese-style yi mein with lobster File:A bags of Yi Fu noodles from Siu Kee store.jpg|A bag of yi mein at a store in Yuen Long, Hong Kong File:Shrimp powder with yi mein in chinese noodles shop.jpg| E-fu noodle with ground dried shrimp at a Chinese noodle restaurant in Yuen Long, Hong Kong </gallery>
==See also== *Mì *Wonton noodles
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.foodsubs.com/NoodlesWheat.html E-fu noodles] from The Cook's Thesaurus site
{{Hong Kong cuisine}} {{Chinese noodles}} {{Cantonese cuisine}}
{{Portal|Food}}
Category:Cantonese cuisine Category:Chinese noodles Category:Hong Kong cuisine Category:Longevity