Stir-Fried Vermicelli
This easy and delicious stir-fried vermicelli is an essential Lunar New Year dish!
Cooking Summary
Ingredients: (detailed list)
- Main Ingredients: mung bean vermicelli, dried shrimp, dried shiitake mushroom, carrot, napa cabbage, celery, red onion, green onion, garlic, corn oil
- Sauce Ingredients: salt, sugar, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil
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Top 3 Mistakes
- Leaving ingredients too wet:
Drain and dry the ingredients as directed before they reach the pan. Extra water changes how they cook, making it harder to get the browning and texture the recipe calls for.
- Rushing the mushroom soak:
Give the dried mushrooms time to soften before cooking. A quick rinse is not a substitute for rehydration; follow the soaking step so the centers are ready along with the edges.
- Skipping the soaking step:
Rehydrate the dried ingredients before you start cooking. Follow the recipe’s soaking instructions so they soften properly rather than staying tough in the finished dish.
Overview
Every family's Lunar New Year feast is a bit different. For some, meaty Cantonese classics such as Siu Yuk and White Cut Chicken are a must. For others, the holiday wouldn't be complete without plenty of seafood, like Lobster Yee Mein and Abalone with Lettuce. Filled with symbolism, noodles are another essential and one of my family's favorite preparations is this Stir-Fried Vermicelli (蝦米炒粉絲).
The star ingredient is mung bean vermicelli. My dad has used the noodles in Egg Rolls, Steamed Garlic Shrimp and other dishes and it's an ingredient we recommend having on hand all the time. Two other Chinese pantry staples (dried shrimp and dried shiitake mushrooms) make an appearance to add flavor and texture.
While stir-fried vermicelli is known as a Chinese New Year dish, the crowd-pleaser is great for everyday dinners, too. With my dad's tips, this vermicelli is easy enough to make anytime you're craving a comforting Chinese meal!
Ingredients
Why this recipe
Most stir-fried vermicelli recipes online are tested only a handful of times. My dad used to make this dish multiple times a day, every day, for 60+ years and can make this in his sleep.
I know you'll love it as much as our community does! This recipe has over 236.3K views, 4.5K likes on YouTube.
On vermicelli
Mung bean vermicelli is an ingredient that we've used a lot because it's a pantry staple in Chinese cooking. It's especially popular during Lunar New Year because the strands symbolize longevity and prosperity in the coming year.
My dad prefers one that's fully made from mung bean and recommends the brand 龍口 (LungKow, or literally Dragon's Mouth). He's used them regularly for years and find that they're less likely to stick or break easily. They're available at Chinese supermarkets and also online.
How to make Stir-Fried Vermicelli
Soak ingredients
Place the mung bean vermicelli (5 oz) in a bowl and soak in warm water for a few minutes.
Rinse the dried shrimp (2 oz) in a small bowl with warm water. Drain and soak in more water for 3 minutes.
Wash the dried shiitake mushrooms (2 oz) in cold water, then soak in warm water.
Peel the carrot (0.50 large).
Cut off 4 leaves from the napa cabbage (4 oz), cutting the leaf at the base to preserve the rest of the cabbage. Rinse and soak the leaves in water in a large bowl. Place the celery (3 stalk) in the same bowl to soak.
Cut ingredients
Peel pieces of the red onion (2 oz) off the root. My dad prefers to do this rather than cutting the pieces off so he can save the rest of the onion for other uses. Next, cut the onion along the grain into thin slices.
Slice the green onion (2 oz) into 2-inch pieces.
Cut a thin slice off one side of the carrot. This creates a level base for slicing. Slice the remaining carrot into thin planks. Stack them together and julienne into thin, match-like strips.
Use the flat side of your knife to smash the cloves of garlic (3 clove). Trim off the hard end, then mince the cloves.
Cut the stalks of celery into quarters, then slice into strips going along the grain.
Slice the napa cabbage into three sections, then cut into thin strips.
Drain the dried shiitake mushrooms, using your hands to squeeze out any excess water. Slice into thin strips.
Remove the shrimp from the bowl, squeezing out any excess water. Reserve the soaking liquid for later use.
Use kitchen shears to make a couple of cuts into the vermicelli so they're not too long. Drain the noodles.
Stir fry ingredients
Heat a wok on high heat. Add in the oil (1 tablespoon). Once it's hot, decrease the heat.
Stir fry the garlic for 20 seconds. Add the rehydrated shrimp and move them around with a pair of chopsticks to help release their flavor into the hot oil.
Add the mushrooms and stir fry for 2 minutes.
Add the green onion whites, followed by the napa cabbage. Adjust the heat to high and stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the celery and stir fry for 1 minute.
Lastly, add the carrots and stir fry for 1 minute. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the reserved shrimp soaking water. Stir fry for another minute.
Add seasoning
Turn the heat to low.
In the wok, add the salt (0.50 teaspoon), sugar (1 teaspoon), light soy sauce (1 tablespoon), oyster sauce (1 tablespoon) and stir fry to mix it into the ingredients. Add the dark soy sauce (1 teaspoon).
Add the vermicelli noodles to the center of your wok, turn the heat to high and toss them into the sauce. For noodles, my dad prefers to stir fry with a pair of chopsticks so he can easily tease the strands apart. If using a spatula, don't overmix!
Finish stir frying
Add the red onions and the remaining green onions.
Turn the heat to medium-low and stir fry for a final 2 minutes.
Taste the vermicelli for seasoning and finish with the sesame oil (1 teaspoon).
Pairs well with
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Made with love ❤️
We started Made With Lau to celebrate Cantonese culture and honor the legacy of our wonderful parents, Jenny and Chung Sun Lau.
Our hope is that these recipes and stories help you spread the joy, love, and nostalgia that I felt growing up.
