Fried Rice Vermicelli/Rice Sticks/Rice Noodles Recipe (炒米粉)
July 4th, 2008 | 30-Minute Meals Recipes, Chinese, Chinese Recipes, Eating Light, Food Porn, Travel | 38 Comments
(Chinese recipes, prepare authentic Chinese food now!)
As a Chinese, I’ve never had to think hard when it comes to buying noodles at the market. Noodles are a staple in Chinese cuisine; the varieties of noodles available are just like pastas to the Italians–they come in different sizes, shapes, colors, texture, and forms. There are rice vermicelli, yellow noodles, green (spinach) noodles, egg noodles, steamed chow mein, pan-fried chow mein, lo mein, crispy noodles, Shanghai noodles, fresh noodles, glass noodles, udon-like “laifen,” flat rice noodles, Taiwanese noodles, etc. And then, there are dried packaged noodles from all over Asia and the lists and brands go forever on.
Despite the many offerings in the marketplace, picking out the right noodles for that perfect fried noodles dish is our natural ability. However, the experience could be overwhelming for others, a fact that I have just come to realize. For many non-Chinese/Asians and Asian food beginners, buying noodles is a somewhat daunting–not to mention confusing and frustrating–task. There are just too many different noodles to choose from–especially if you shop in Asian supermarkets. For example: how do you tell the difference between “steamed chow mein” and “pan-fried chow mein?” They look almost identical; the only difference is the texture of the noodles. So, how do you select the perfect noodles for a homemade fried noodle dish? I thought I would provide a simple example/recipe that is sure to please most people…
