Rice noodles are everywhere, from Chinese and Thai places to Vietnamese eateries; they’re versatile, light, and beautifully textured. The thin vermicelli noodles are world-famous, and you can cook with them too.
These are our favorite ways to cook with rice noodles, choose the one that sings to you and try it out, or try them all! Because once you cook with the pearly-white noodles, you won’t go back to regular pasta.
1. Vermicelli Spring Rolls, a Crunchy Bite Every Time
We bet you’ve never seen spring rolls like these. Vermicelli noodles are first fried with lots of goodies: garlic, celery, carrots and all kinds of spices. A quick pass in a wok will do the trick. Spring roll wraps are then filled with the thin, now very aromatic noodles, and the whole roll is tightly wrapped before getting a lovely golden color in a deep fryer. These might well be kings in the spring roll realm.
2. Noodle Salads, Colorful and Refreshing Starters
Salads don’t have to be boring, and they can be more filling than you think. Soften your vermicelli noodles in boiling water for just a few minutes; it takes no longer than that. Drain them and mix your noodles with thinly sliced cucumbers, green onions and carrots. Add a fistful of aromatic mint or basil too. Toss everything with a light vinaigrette or citrus-scented dressing for the best salad of your life.
3. Stir-Fries, Toasty Noodles with Intense Flavor
This one is relatively standard but equally delicious. Stir-fries based on vermicelli are lighter than the ones that use other types of starch, like mung bean noodles. There are no rules here; choose your proteins, from beef to meaty shrimp, and veggies in all colors, and cook it all over high heat in a large pan or a wok if you have one at home. Soy sauce will bring all the ingredients together, but it’s the fire that bonds them harmoniously.
4. Chicken Noodle Soup, a Meal in a Bowl
The warmth of home in the perfect chicken noodle soup. The subtle nature of vermicelli noodles and their non-stick properties make them the ideal noodle for a hearty, flavorful chicken broth. Add vegetables and a few pieces of juicy chicken and share this heartwarming soup with the ones you love.
5. Vermicelli Cakes, an Unexpected Sweet Twist
Here’s a twist. Vermicelli noodles have a place in the pastry department too. Boil your noodles, not in water, but in sweet condensed milk with walnuts, cherries, raisins, butter, cinnamon and sugar. Doesn’t that sound lovely? That’s not the end, transfer the mixture to a baking pan and let it cool. It will solidify, and you’ll be able to cut your noodles like a cake.
There You Have It!
These are not the only ways to cook with rice vermicelli noodles but are a good starting point. Get inspired and try the delicate noodles any way you want.
For breakfast, lunch and dinner, vermicelli noodles are not only nice looking, but they’re also satisfying to eat, so don’t wait and add rice noodles to your grocery list.