I’m not sure why it has taken me years to try making this myself at home, but I’m so glad this recipe is now up on the blog for other families❤️

My mother-in-law is the originator of this dish, and she’s the queen of cooking with simple ingredients to feed a huge family. This also happens to be my husband’s favourite childhood dish, so with his stamp of approval, here’s my MIL’s Ban Mian recipe with a bit of my own tweaks:)

P.S. The “noodles” are not your typical ban mian style, but you could flatten and cut the dough into that (or Mee Hoon Kuey) if you like!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Comforting and homey
Easy enough to cook on a weeknight
Only needs 2 - 3 ingredients for QQ noodles
One-pot, splatter-free, and minimal cleanup
Balanced with meat, vegetables & carbs❤️
Crispy ikan bilis (mandatory for Ban Mian) but made in the air fryer

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients

For the noodles:

1 cup plain flour
1 egg (you can omit, but this makes the noodles more chewy with higher protein content!)
1/4 cup water (add more if you need)

For the minced meat:

400g mince meat (I used chicken, but pork is more typical)
1.5 tbsp light soy sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
White pepper
1 tsp cornstarch

For the crispy ikan bilis (You can also use ready-made):

Ikan bilis, washed and dried well
Oil enough to coat
Smashed garlic (I add 2 - 3 cloves)
Salt (optional)

For the soup (Follow stock powder serving suggestions):

Water
Leafy greens
Ikan bilis powder (Healthier alternative that’s toddler-friendly - link)
Salt to taste
(optional, but very yummy) Fried shallots, spring onions, fresh cut chillies

Method

Marinate the meat: This has to be done at least 30 minutes before cooking, up to 2-3 hours is ok – Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix until the meat just becomes sticky! Don’t overmix or it will become very dry & hard when you cook it. Refrigerate until you’re ready to cook it.
Prepare Ikan Bilis: Wash ikan bilis and lay between 2 pieces of paper towels. Pat gently to dry them and let them air dry while you prepare the dough.
Make the dough: In a bowl, add flour, water & egg. Knead until smooth, and it’s also okay if it feels a bit sticky. You can add more flour if you find it difficult to manage.
Shape & Cook the noodles: Roll out the dough to your desired thickness. To a pot of low boiling water, cut into little dough strips or tear & shape into pieces for Mee Hoon Kueh and add them directly into the pot. (Tip: You can watch how I did it in my IG Reel) Make sure you gently stir the noodles as you add more so they don’t stick together or to the bottom of the pot. Boil for 3 - 5 minutes, or test for texture before serving. Start to add noodles to your serving bowls, and leave the pot on the stove for cooking your meat.
Air fry Ikan Bilis: Add ikan bilis and smashed garlic to the air fryer basket. Pour a bit of neutral oil on your hand, and then gently rub oil all over each ikan bilis. This ensures that the oil coats every ikan bilis well so it can beautifully crisp up in the air fryer! Also remember to spread them out in one layer evenly. Air fry at 180ºC for 6-8 mins, depending on the size of your ikan bilis. Give them a toss halfway through.
Cook the meat: While the ikan bilis is in the air fryer, slowly add broken up clumps of marinated meat into the same pot of water you boiled your noodles in. I like to serve them broken up, but you can make them into meatballs too. Once cooked, add them to the serving bowls with noodles in them.
When the air fryer is done: Add a sprinkle of salt to them and let the ikan bilis cool once its done so it can crisp up even further! Don’t leave it enclosed in the air fryer.
Cook the broth: In the same pot, add clean water and ikan bilis stock powder. (Note: You can use any soup stock powder you like, or make your own!) Cook according to the stock powder’s instructions. This is the time to cook your leafy greens as well!
Assemble: Taste the soup and make adjustments with salt, soy sauce or sugar if needed. Then add leafy greens and soup to noodles & minced meat in their bowls.
Serve hot: Top with crispy ikan bilis, fried shallots, spring onions & fresh cut chillies. Enjoy!~

Product(s) Highlight

Storage & FAQ

Q1 How do I store leftover noodles? This recipe is best enjoyed fresh! But it’s definitely possible to store cooked noodles and broth separately in airtight containers for up to 2 days. Reheat the broth and briefly blanch the noodles before serving.

Q2 Can I use store-bought noodles? Absolutely, but handmade noodles add a special texture that is worth trying when you have time.

Q3 Can I cook the minced meat in the soup stock? Sure you can! The marinade from the meat will leak into the soup and impart extra flavour. I personally prefer the taste of pure ikan bilis soup without the taste of soy sauce or sesame oil from the meat so I cook them separately.