The Essentials of Asian Cuisine
Asian Noodles
Asian Noodles are the essential part in Asian cuisine. Noodles are the main ingredient used in many Asia recipes and also the signature of Asian dishes. Although Italian pastas are often recommended as the substitute for noodles in Asian recipes, it will never result give the same taste. The difference between Asian Noodles and Italian pasta counterparts is quite significant.
For example, many recipes suggest substituting rice noodles with linguine, but they really are not comparable. To buy these noodles, you do not need to fly with Asia Airlines and go to Asia in order to buy them. They are mostly sold at Asian Grocery stores.
Rice noodles also well-known as vermicelli or rice sticks. A classic dish from Thailand, Pad Thai for example usually using rice noodles as one of the main ingredient. There are some Vietnamese dishes which also consist of rice noodles with meat topping served with light sauce. Rice noodles mostly sold in dry condition with various thicknesses. And since rice noodles are precooked, boiling them will not be necessary.
Ramen is possibly the most well known Asian Noodles. Ramen is famous for instant soups, but Ramen can also be use for many recipes other than soup. Ramen noodles are easy to recognize for its curly and long shapes dried to rectangular brick. These noodles need to be boiled for three minutes, and they are ready to be served. Cellophane noodles are the most unique Asian Noodles, or also referred as the bean threads. Cellophane noodles shape very thin, almost string like and will be almost transparent when they are cooked. They also known as vermicelli noodles or glass noodles due to this reason. Cellophane noodles frequently stir fried along with other additional ingredients since they are pretty much flavorless. They are also requires 20 minutes soaking before cooking.
The most similar Asian Noodles to American Noodles are probably the Chinese egg noodles or also known as E Fu noodles. This noodle has three types. The first is Soba noodles, made from buckwheat with unique brown color. Soba noodles are more vigorous and extensive than the rest of Asian Noodles. Soba noodles also need to be cooked to boil but cooking time will vary depend on the noodles’ thickness. The second is Somen noodles, usually sold in dry condition and bundled using a band. The third kind of Chinesse egg noodles are the Udon noodles. This wide noodle is similar to fettuccine and mostly used for in Chow Mein or Lo Mein recipes.