Fried noodles can be a fun addition to any meal. They can be used as a crunchy topping on soups such as manchow or hot and sour, or they can be tossed together with vegetables to create a stir fry. They are also great on their own as a snack.
How to Make Crispy Fried Noodles
If you want crispy fried noodles that are separate and perfectly golden brown, there are a few tips you can follow. You’ll need to heat the oil properly, use a specific frying method and ensure that each noodle is drained and dry before frying.
1. Heating the oil in a wide skillet or frying pan till it starts shimmering (about 350F/180C). You can do this with a thermometer but it’s easier to check that the temperature is right by dropping a small piece of noodle into the oil. If it’s not hot enough, the noodle will soak up all of the oil and won’t cook from the inside out.
2. To prevent the noodle from sticking to each other, pat it as dry as possible with water before frying them. You can also toss the noodle with sesame oil before frying.
3. Boiled noodles must be deep fried over medium flame to make them light brown and crispy.
You can prepare boiled noodles in advance and store them for up to 10 days, just make sure that they are dried and cool completely before storing them.
4. Preparing the noodles in advance allows them to absorb more oil, which makes them crispier and tastier.
Using fresh or refrigerated noodles will ensure that the process is quick and easy, and they are often available at your local Asian market. You can also use a variety of other Chinese-style noodles, such as chow mein or egg noodles.
5. You can prepare the noodle sauce up to a day in advance; just make sure to give it a quick whisk before you add it to the hot oil.
6. You can toss the noodle mixture with your favorite stir-fry ingredients such as chicken, beef or pork, shrimp, scallops, broccoli, carrots, cabbage and gai lan.
7. You can add more vegetables to your dish as desired for extra nutrients and texture.
8. You can tinker with the stir-fry sauce to suit your taste.
9. If you want to add more vegetables, such as shredded carrots and white onions, then you can do so.
10. If you want to make a meaty dish, you can toss the noodle mixture in a stir-fry with thinly sliced or minced meat such as chicken, beef or pork, shrimp, or scallops.
12. If you’re feeling fancy, you can add mushrooms or a few slices of fresh scallions for some more flavor.
13. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can also try adding a few tablespoons of cornstarch to thicken the noodle sauce during the stir-frying process, which is another way to add extra protein and texture.
