Gallery: Wok Skills 101: Dry Fried Chow Fun (Wide Rice Noodles)

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated August 10, 2018
  • Chow Fun with Chinese Broccoli

    Smoky, salty, and filing, with a pungent bite from fermented black beans.

    Chow Fun Noodles

    Fresh chow fun noodles are essential for this recipe. If you live near a Chinatown or a good Asian grocer, look for them.

    Cut Your Noodles

    Noodles are usually sold in wide sheets that need to be sliced into 3/4- to 1-inch width individual noodles.

    Fermented Black Beans

    Though they're called "black beans," these are actually soy beans that have been heavily fermented. They have a pungent, salty bite. If you can't find whole beans, you can use fermented black bean paste, replacing each tablespoon of whole beans with 2 teaspoons of paste.

    Stir Fry Your Vegetables

    Frying in batches is key to developing good wok hei flavor in each ingredient. Start with leafy vegetables.

    Sir Fry, Round Two

    Remove your first batch of vegetables, reheat your wok, and stir-fry your second batch. Repeat for all of your ingredients, cooking no more than a pound or so at a time.

    Fry Your Noodles

    Chow fun noodles need plenty of oil and gently folding to keep from breaking or sticking together.

    Mix It Up

    Once all the ingredients have been cooked, combine them all with your sauce (in this case its a mix of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and fermented black beans), then gently fold and toss to combine.

    And Serve

    Serve immediately and eat while hot!

    20110614-chow-fun-primary.jpg

    20110614-chow-fun-primary.jpg

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