A Deliciously Tasty Misua Soup Recipe
Misua, which may also be spelled miswa, is a type of wheat vermicelli that originated in Fujian, China. Misua refers to a very thin variety of salted wheat flour noodles. The word itself, which translates to Thread Noodles, are so thin they are often brittle. These noodles differ from vermicelli, which is made from rice, or cellophane noodles, made from rice/mung beans.
In Chinese culture, Misua represents a long life, so it is traditionally included when planning a birthday party or a life event. And, because of its long-life symbolism, the culture discourages the chewing or cutting of Misua noodles. When eating Misua, it is best to try to eat these very long noodles in one length, as this is considered symbolic of good luck and the key to living a long life.
Misua is served in many different types of sauteed or stir-fired dishes with various ingredients, including eggs, oysters, beef, fried fish, shiitake mushroom, shallots, scallions, tofu, bell pepper, and even roasted nuts, etc. Misua is also crafted into a delicious type of soup by many cultures, including cuisines from China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Philippines, among others.
How to Make A Tasty Misua Soup
The Misua soup is delicious, budget-friendly, and comforting and often referred to as the Lunar New Year longevity noodle dish.
- Preparation Time – 10 minutes.
- Cooking Time – 15 minutes.
- Total Prep & Cook Time – 25 minutes.
- Serves – 2.
The List of Ingredients for a Tasty Misua Soup
This Misua soup recipe creates a heavenly bowl of comfort food. The following are the ingredients you need to make this traditional and deliciously tasty Misua soup recipe:
- 1 Tablespoon of Peanut Oil.
- 1/2 Teaspoon of Minced Garlic.
- 1 Medium Tomato – Diced.
- 2 Medium Shallots – Thinly Sliced.
- 2 To 3 Dried Wood Ear Mushrooms
- 4 Cups of Chicken Broth.
- 1 Bundle of Misua – About 7 Ounces.
- 3 Cups of Coarsely Chopped Greens.
- Fish Sauce, to Taste.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to Taste.
- 1 Teaspoon of Oyster Sauce.
- Salt, to Taste.
Substitutions
Note – you can substitute Somen Noodles for Misua noodles if you can’t find Misua noodles. If you are in a pinch, you can even substitute angel hair pasta, which is typically much easier to find in a typical grocery store.
Cooking Directions For A Deliciously Tasty Misua Soup Recipe
Misua soup comes together quickly for a tasty and filling meal or meal starter any day of the week. To begin:
- Heat one tablespoon of peanut oil in a medium-large pot over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic, diced tomatoes, and sliced shallots to the heated oil until they start to become softened.
- Add the thinly sliced wood ear mushrooms. Stir and saute the vegetable mixture for a few minutes.
- Pour in the four cups of chicken broth and bring the soup base to a rolling boil.
- Add the Misua and your choice of chopped greens and stir.
- Season the soup with fish sauce, black pepper, and a teaspoon of oyster sauce.
- Let the soup boil for two to three minutes or until the noodles and greens loosen and go limp.
- Turn off the heat.
- Cover the pot.
- Allow the soup to sit and finish cooking using the stove’s residual heat for two to three minutes.
- While the noodles are cooking, do a taste test. Adjust the broth’s seasonings if needed.
FAQS
How to Store Misua Soup?
When the soup has cooled to room temperature, pour the Misua soup into an airtight container. If stored in the refrigerator, this delicious soup can be safely stored for three to four days. If you are choosing to freeze the Misua Soup, it can be frozen for up to three months. It is best to thaw the soup in the fridge overnight and add some water before reheating to loosen the consistency. Check if you need to adjust seasonings.
What Can You Serve With Is Misua Soup?
Depending on why or when Misua Soup is served, it pairs well with Chinese dumplings, spring rolls, a stir-fry, fried rice, or a Lunar New Year Cake (Nian Gao).
What are Some Variations of Misua Soup?
Because so many cultures include Misua in their soup recipes, the variations vary widely. These include –
- Egg Soup with Misua
- Chicken and Patola Misua Soup
- Vegan Misua Soup
- Misua Soup with Pork Meatballs (Almondigas)
- Seafood Misua Soup
Where Can You Buy Misua Noodles?
Outside of the countries of China and the Philippines, Misua noodles will likely be found at a specialty Asian/International grocer.
Are There Different Types of Misua Noodles?
Technically, there are four kinds of Misua, although not all of the varieties are used to make soup.
- Quanzhou Misua – Primarily used for the thick soup known as misuagor.
- Tangnan Misua – used primarily for stir-fried dishes.
- Taiwan Misua – the orange Misua from Taiwan is orange, which differs from the more traditional white-colored Misua.
- Puning Misua
