Welcome back to “The Kid Stays in the Kitchen.” Each week a student is assigned to cook a traditional dish with a friend or family member and document the experience in photos and words. This week features Sicheng who prepared Ban Mian, a noodle dish from the Fujian Province.

“Since coming to the United States as a young child, I can hardly remember my first food memories I had back in the Fujian Province in China. Despite this, each time I taste a unique dish my family prepare it nonetheless feels familiar.  This feeling is most exemplified when I taste what I think is the ultimate comfort food from my province: Ban Mian.

Ban Mian literally means “mixed noodles.”  The dish is very simple, consisting of a sauce of peanut butter mixed with soy sauce and sesame oil and then combined with wonton noodles. The wonton noodles are essential in maintaining authenticity; no other type can replicate its distinct taste and texture.

Each Sunday my parents prepare a meal of Ban Mian served with Bian Rou (Fujianese wonton soup) and I’m happy to share this recipe with you.”   — Sicheng

Ban Mian: Recipe by my dad

• Peanut Butter (3-4 tablespoons)
• Sesame Oil to taste
• Scallion
• Soy Sauce to taste (Or Kung Pao Sauce whichever is preferred)
• Wonton Noodles

Start by bringing water to a boil and placing two clumps of wonton noodles, spreading the noodles around the pot. In a separate bowl mix the peanut butter with the soy sauce and the sesame oil thoroughly until a good balance of flavors has been obtained. Make sure the sauce is not too stiff. If it gets stiff add more soy sauce. After about 5 or so minutes boiling in the water, place the wonton noodles on a separate plate. Pour the Ban Mian sauce onto the noodles and use chop sticks to mix the sauce with the noodles thoroughly. Garnish with some scallions.