Chinese Birthday Misua Noodles

It was my dad’s birthday, so I decided to make a video on how Chinoys or Filipino Chinese celebrate birthdays. Chinoy festivities always involve the color red. Red clothes, red envelopes, red decorations, etc. everything red. The color red symbolizes joy and good fortune. Never wear black to a Chinoy’s birthday as it is associated with death.

Another birthday staple is noodles which signify longevity. In fact, there are certain types of noodles specifically meant for birthdays. We call them birthday noodles or longevity noodles.

Birthday misua recipes depend on which part of China you or your ancestors are from. Some stir-fry the misua to produce a somewhat dry version while others prefer a soupy style. Technically, it doesn’t matter how you cook it. As long as you have noodles on the table on one’s natal day, you’re good.

Here’s my spruced up version of my Ahkong or grandpa’s recipe. My grandpa only used chicken as the main source of flavor and protein, but I wanted mine a bit more special, so I added shrimps.

CHICKEN BROTH:
1 kg chicken thighs
4 cups water
1 cup mushroom water (liquid from soaked shiitake)
4 bouillon cubes
1 medium onion
spring onion
ginger

MISUA
600g egg misua noodles
chicken broth + 2 L water
1 kg shredded chicken thighs
1/2 kg shrimps
1/2 kg cabbage
6 cloves garlic
1 large onion
1 small carrot
50-60g shiitake mushroom
48 pcs quail eggs
salt and pepper to taste (I used about 1tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper)

TOPPINGS
1/2 kg fried fat/pork skin with fat or chicharon (seasoned with 1tsp salt before frying)
4 beaten eggs (fried then sliced into strips)
spring onion
roasted peanuts

COOKING THE CHICKEN/MAKING THE CHICKEN BROTH + NOODLES
1) Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms and keep the mushroom water or the water where the shiitake was soaked.
2) Boil all the ingredients or the chicken broth together.
3) While waiting for the chicken to cook, prepare the noodles according to the instructions on its packaging.
4) After the chicken is cooked, strain it out then shred. Save the broth, but discard the rest.

MAIN PART OF THE BIRTHDAY MISUA
1) Sauté the onion and garlic.
2) Add the shrimps and season it with a dash of salt and pepper.
3) Once the shrimps are cooked, add the shredded chicken, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, broth, salt and pepper.
4) Bring it to a boil then add the Chinese cabbage, quail eggs, and spring onions.
5) Remove from heat when the cabbage is soft. Then set aside.

You can serve the noodles separated, so it doesn’t become soggy. You may also combine everything including the toppings.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro - How Chinoys Celebrate Birthdays
1:19 Cooking the Chicken/Making the Broth
1:40 Cooking the Noodles
1:49 Cooking the Main Part of the Birthday Misua
1:33 How to Serve the Chinese Birthday Misua

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