singapore noodles

Singapore noodles. They didn't originate in Singapore (theory is they're Cantonese) and they were popularized by Chinese restaurants in Europe. How is that for a hodgepodge history?

Well, I'm going to blame this one on Anthony Bourdain too. I've been streaming No Reservations on Netflix lately and the other night I watched the Singapore episode. My mouth started to water when I saw him slurping a soup bowl full of rice vermicelli and a searingly hot pepper sauce. YUM. I'm in love with both rice vermicelli and hot sauce. So, I started Googling recipes.

Most of the recipes I found featured curry powder, which honestly, I could take or leave. I used it today because I had some but also price checked it at the store and saw that it was selling for about $5 a bottle. That's wayyyyy too much. If you have a decently stocked spice cabinet, you can probably just make your own. Here is a good basic recipe although there are many variations (google it). My curry powder is a mild version so I just added some cayenne to make it hot. If you don't want to use curry, this dish would be equally as delicious seasoned with just the soy sauce blend that is added at the end.

To make this recipe economical, use whatever vegetables you can purchase at a good price. The best buys at the store today were bok choy, bean sprouts, carrots and green onions. Other possibilities include: nappa or regular cabbage, bell peppers, yellow onion, mushrooms or jalapenos. You can also add fish, pork or chicken for added protein.

Special Note: This recipe makes a TON. The photos below are of a half batch that I made because I am going out of town and didn't want a lot sitting in my fridge. The recipe is written for a full batch. I plan on making a fresh half batch in a few days to use up the rest of the ingredients.





Total Recipe cost: $8.40
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Cost per serving: $1.40
Prep time: 35 min. Cook time: 5-10 min. Total: 45 min.

INGREDIENTS		COST
8 oz.	rice vermicelli noodles	$2.39
1 Tbsp	hot curry powder	$0.25
2 cloves	garlic	$0.11
1 inch	fresh ginger	$0.09
3 Tbsp	vegetable oil	$0.11
1 bunch	bok choy	$2.55
4 medium	carrots	$0.25
12 oz. bag	bean sprouts	$1.49
1 bunch	green onions	$0.25
1/4 cup	soy sauce	$0.24
1 tsp	sesame oil	$0.12
1 tsp	chili garlic sauce (optional)	$0.05
TOTAL		$8.40

STEP 1: Place the dry rice noodles in a bowl and cover with room temperature water. Let soak for 15 minutes. Drain in a colander after they have soaked and are softened. Return the noodles to the bowl, cut the noodles into pieces (approximately 6 inches in length) to facilitate stir frying later. Sprinkle the noodles with curry powder and toss to coat. Set noodles aside.

STEP 2: While the noodles are soaking/draining/marinating in curry powder, prepare all of your vegetables. Peel and mince the garlic and ginger, julienne the carrots, wash and thinly slice the bok choy, rinse the bean sprouts and slice the green onion.

STEP 3: Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. When the pan is very hot, add the garlic and ginger. Stir fry very briefly (1 minute or less) then add all of the vegetables, reserving some green onion for garnish. Stir fry the vegetables until they just begin to soften.

STEP 4: Add the noodles to the hot pan and stir fry briefly (1-2 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the soy sauce, sesame oil and chili garlic sauce. You can either add them to the pan individually or mix them all together in a bowl then stir into the dish. Taste the noodles and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Step By Step Photos

These are the rice noodles I used. I bought them at a regular grocery store in the Asian section. They could probably be bought for half the price at an Asian grocer.


Soak the rice noodles in water for about 15 minutes or until they have softened.


Drain the rice noodles well.


Put the noodles back in the bowl and cut into pieces about 6 inches long (or on a cutting board). If you don't cut the noodles, you'll never be able to stir fry them or mix them in with the veggies later. Sprinkle with the curry powder and toss to coat. Set the noodles aside.


While the noodles are soaking, draining and marinating with curry powder, prepare the vegetables. I have green onion, garlic, ginger, bok choy, carrot and bean sprouts. Cut everything thinly so they cook quickly.


Heat a large skillet or wok over high heat with vegetable oil. When it is very hot, add the ginger and garlic and stir fry for one minute or 30 seconds (this was so quick I couldn't take a picture). Then add the rest of your vegetables.


Stir fry the veggies just until they begin to soften. Do not over cook them at this point, they will continue to cook as you go.


Add your softened, seasoned and cut noodles.


Stir fry the noodles for another 1-2 minutes then remove from the heat.


Mix together some soy sauce, chili garlic sauce and sesame oil.


Add the soy sauce mixture and stir in. Taste the noodles to see if you want to add more heat (chili garlic sauce), salt (soy sauce) or sesame oil.


Despite the curry powder and chili garlic sauce, I still like to top my noodles with Sriracha!!