Ingredients
- 8 ounces thin rice stick noodles (vermicelli)
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry
- 3 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 ounces small shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 ounces Chinese Barbecued Pork (or boiled ham), julienned (1 cup)
- 1 cup scallions, finely chopped
Chef notes
Craving a gorgeous noodle dish but don't know where to start? Grace Young shares this delicious dish with a simple method to get incredible umami flavor. In Singapore, this is one of the great street foods to enjoy. It’s packed with flavor from soy sauce and fresh ginger, vegetables, Asian barbecued pork and broth that blends with vermicelli rice stick noodles. The best part is that it’s easy enough to make this at home.
Technique tip: For the best flavor, be sure to use a high-quality curry powder. Look for Madras curry powder which has a mild heat and a more complex flavor than standard curry powder.
Swap option: Instead of green bell pepper you can use red or yellow bell pepper. If you wanted to make this vegetarian you can substitute the shrimp and barbecued pork with extra firm tofu that’s been cut into 1/4-inch-thick, bite-sized pieces.
Preparation
1.Soak the noodles in a bowl with enough warm water to cover for 20 minutes or until they are soft and pliable. Drain the noodles in a colander, shaking well to remove excess water. In a small bowl combine the broth, soy sauce, and rice wine.
2.Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes within 1 to 2 seconds of contact. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil, add the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, then, using a metal spatula, stir-fry 10 seconds or until the aromatics are fragrant. Add the shrimp and stir-fry 1 minute or until the shrimp have just turned orange but are not cooked through. Transfer the shrimp to a plate.
3.Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil into the wok, add the bell pepper and stir-fry 30 seconds or until well combined. Add the curry powder and stir-fry 5 seconds or until the curry is fragrant. Swirl the broth mixture into the wok and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the drained noodles and return to a boil, stirring the noodles until they are completely coated in the curry mixture. Sprinkle on the salt, sugar, and pepper. If noodles are hard add an additional ¼ cup broth or water, cover, and cook over low heat 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are just tender.
4.Increase the heat to high, add the shrimp and barbecued pork and stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes or until shrimp are just cooked through and all the liquid has been absorbed by the noodles. Stir in the scallions.
