Types of Chinese Noodles – Fried Noodles
Chow mein is a well-known Chinese takeout dish that is familiar to almost everyone in the West. It gets its name from the Chinese word for fried noodles, chomiàn.
But even though this is where the name “chow mein” originates, Chinese fried noodles differ somewhat from their Western counterpart.
As implied by the name, fried noodles are simply boiled noodles that have been stir-fried with a variety of thinly sliced vegetables and meat.
Therefore, if you order chomiàn in China, be ready to anticipate something a little different from your chow mein from the neighborhood Chinese takeaway.
Learn everything you need to know about the most common strands
If you’ve ever browsed the noodle section of an Asian grocery store, you know how diverse the selection can be for home cooks who aren’t familiar with the various kinds.
Following a recipe is one thing; just purchase and use the specific type of noodles it calls for. But what if you want to try something new and diversify a little? In that case, you’ll want to learn a little bit more about each kind of noodle.
There are three main categories of Asian noodles: glass or cellophane noodles, wheat noodles, and rice noodles. Discover more about each type below, complete with examples of each that are most popular, useful cooking advice, and recipes.
Each type of noodle can frequently be prepared in a variety of ways, including in broth, stir-fried, deep-fried, and either cold or hot.
The most common grain used to make noodles is wheat, and Asian noodles are no exception to this rule.
Like Italian pasta, Asian wheat noodles are typically made with wheat flour and eggs. However, one significant distinction is that many varieties of Asian egg noodles are made by pulling and stretching the noodles, as opposed to Italian pasta, which is made by rolling and then slicing the dough.
Similar to rolling, this works the dough’s glutens, but the resulting noodles have a different texture and consistency. Asian noodles tend to be more bouncy and springy than their Italian counterparts.
Types of Chinese Noodles – Yunnan Rice Noodles
Yunnan rice noodles (ynnán mxiàn) come in a wide range of varieties, and various rice noodle dishes can be found throughout Yunnan.
A component of the Yunnan diet that is consumed for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack is rice noodles.
Numerous varieties of noodles exist, including those used in soups, cold dishes, spicy dishes, and standard dishes topped with vegetables and meat.
In this noodle soup, the broth and the ingredients are served separately, and you must add each ingredient by itself to the broth afterward.
FAQ
What types of Chinese noodles are there?
- Ramen Noodles. Ramen soup, a brothy, umami-rich dish packed with proteins, vegetables, and spices, is what first made ramen noodles popular.
- Udon Noodles. …
- Rice Noodles. …
- Soba Noodles. …
- Glass Noodles. …
- Chow Mein Noodles. …
- Vermicelli Noodles. …
- Somen Noodles.
How many types of noodle are there?
- Egg Noodles. Egg noodles, also known as E-fu noodles, are a common type of noodles used in Asian cuisines.
- Soba Noodles. …
- Ramen Noodles. …
- Rice Stick Noodles. …
- Udon Noodles. …
- Shirataki Noodles. …
- Somen Noodles. …
- Harusame Noodles.
What are the most popular noodles in China?
- Beijing Soybean Paste Noodles (Zhajiangmian北京炸酱面) …
- Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles with Beef (兰州牛肉拉面) …
- Chengdu Dandan Noodles (Dandanmian成都担担面) …
- Guilin Rice Noodles (桂林米粉) …
- Chongqing Spicy Noodles (Xiaomian 重庆小面) …
- Shaanxi’s Biangbiang Noodles (陕西Biangbiang面)
What are the 8 types of noodles?
- Egg noodles. These noodles, also known as Chinese egg noodles or E-fu noodles, are among the most widely used in Asian cuisine.
- Ramen noodles. …
- Udon noodles. …
- Soba noodles. …
- Mung bean thread noodles. …
- Rice stick noodles. …
- Hokkien noodles. …
- Shirataki noodles.