Singapore Rice Noodles Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

Cooking the stir-fry in batches allows the wok to maintain high heat even over lower-power home burners.
Seasoning the shrimp, pork, and vegetables with curry first, and then the noodles second, ensures all ingredients are well-seasoned.

I bet if I were to hop on a plane and fly directly to Singapore, it would be hard—if not impossible—to find so-called "Singapore noodles" at any restaurant. WherewouldI find them? For starters, a heck of a lot of Chinese restaurants. Seasoned with curry powder, the thin rice noodles are stir-fried along with shrimp,char siu(Chinese roast pork), and a mix of vegetables. Its origins are a bit fuzzy, but most likely Singapore noodles are as Cantonese as a bowl of wonton noodle soup: take away the curry powder and you have another Cantonese stir-fried rice-noodle dish called Ha Moon-style stir-fried rice noodles (Ha Moon Chow Mei Fun). This probably explains why you'll most likely find this dish at adai pai dong(open-air food stall) in Hong Kong rather than a hawker center in Singapore.

Finding the Right Noodles

Cooking with the right rice noodle is the key to making Singapore noodles successfully. If you have an Asian supermarket nearby, there are probably rows and rows of different brands and sizes of rice-stick noodles (sometimes also called rice vermicelli noodles). Having a variety of choices to pick from is good, but it can also be confusing. You need a rice noodle that is thin, but can be subjected to the heat of the wok and the movements of stir-frying without breaking into little bits.

The best for this is a rice-stick noodle with the words "kong moon" on the label. Kong Moon, also romanized asjiangmen, is a city in the Guangdong region of China. There are a few brands that make kong moon-style rice noodles. The Double Swallow brand is my personal favorite, but others will work as long as they have that "kong moon" label.

If you're not able to find this type of rice-stick noodle, look for ones that list only water and rice in the ingredients. Some noodles are made with tapioca flour, which I find a bit too starchy for stir-frying.

When you have your noodles, prepping them is pretty simple: Pour enough hot boiling water over them to cover and soak for five minutes. Then rinse under cold water and drain in a colander.

Adding Meat and Veggies to Singapore Noodles

Shrimp is almost always found in Singapore noodles, and so is char siu. Most Chinatown barbecue joints or noodle restaurants will have char siu hanging by a hooks up front next to other favorites like roast duck and soy sauce chicken. Ask for half a piece of char siu (fatty or lean) and tell them not to cut it for you (you'll want to cut it yourself into thin strips). If you're unable to get that, ham is just as popular in Singapore noodles as char siu—get a nice thick piece of ham steak and slice it thinly.

As for the vegetables, onions, bell peppers, and carrots are very common, though you can also add celery, bean sprouts, and snow peas. The main thing is to aim for a mix of colors while also making sure the vegetables retain some crunch during stir-frying.

The Cooking Process

As with all home stir-frying recipes, I cook the ingredients in batches, since overloading the wok will lower its temperature, and high heat is an absolute necessity for stir-frying. (On a similar note, if you want to double this recipe, do not stir-fry double the amount of each ingredient in one wok—home ranges just can't generate the amount of heat needed to stir-fry large quantities of food.)

The first thing I cook in the wok is the egg. When that's done, I set it aside and wipe the wok clean. You'll be re-heating the wok again so you don't want any leftover bits of egg in it, lest they burn.

Next go the shrimp, which have been quickly marinated in oil and fish sauce.

Then add onions and char siu, followed by red bell peppers and snow peas, and lastly the carrots.

When all the vegetables and meats are in the wok, I like to season everything with curry powder and salt so it's well-coated before being mixed with the noodles. Then I remove it all from the wok and set it aside.

I wipe the wok clean again, heat a few tablespoons of oil, and add the noodles.

After about 30 seconds of stir-frying, I add the sauce along with more curry powder, and a little bit of salt. Make sure you are firmly scraping the bottom of the wok with your spatula as you stir-fry the noodles—this prevents the noodles from sticking.

Next, I return the rest of the ingredients to the wok and mix it all together. Off the heat, I add scallions, a drizzle of sesame oil, and serve.

No matter where Singapore noodles come from, they sure do taste great.

May 2015

Recipe Details

Singapore Rice Noodles

Prep20 mins

Cook20 mins

Ingredients

1/4 pound shrimp, shelled, deveined, and rinsed under cold water
4 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons canola or vegetable oil, divided
2 1/2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce, divided
1 bundle (about 5 1/2 ounces) dried rice stick noodles (see note)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon curry powder, divided (see note)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 eggs, beaten with two pinches kosher salt
1/4 pound Chinese roast pork (char siu) or ham, cut into thin strips
1/4 medium onion, very thinly sliced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and julienned
12 snow peas, stemmed, tough strings removed, and slice thinly on the bias
1/2 medium carrot, julienned
Kosher salt
2 scallions, sliced very thinly on the bias
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

Directions

Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and place in a small bowl. Add 1 teaspoon canola oil and 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce. Mix well and set aside in refrigerator.
Place rice noodles in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand until pliable, about 5 minutes. Drain noodles in a colander, then transfer to a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack set in it. Spread noodles in an even layer, then, using scissors, cut noodles in half.
Place garlic in a small bowl and add 2 teaspoons curry powder along with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, white pepper, sugar, remaining 2 teaspoons fish sauce. Mix well, thinning with 2 teaspoons water, then set sauce aside.
Heat 1 teaspoon canola oil in a wok or nonstick skillet over high heat, tilting to swirl oil, until smoking. Add eggs and let cook undisturbed for about 10 second, then gently move the eggs back and forth with a spatula until they start to firm up. Break eggs into small pieces, then set aside in a large bowl.
Wipe wok clean. Return wok to high heat, add 2 tablespoons oil and heat until smoking. Add shrimp and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add roast pork and onion and continue to stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Add red bell pepper and snow peas and stir for another 30 seconds, then add carrots. Add remaining 1 teaspoon curry powder, season with salt, and cook, tossing, until curry is evenly distributed. Scrape wok contents into bowl with eggs.
Wipe wok clean again. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil over high heat until smoking. Add rice-stick noodles and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Stir in sauce until curry powder is evenly distributed, adding water 1 or 2 teaspoons at a time as needed to help distribute sauce. Return egg, shrimp, roast pork, and vegetables to wok and stir-fry until everything is evenly combined, about 30 seconds. Season with salt and remove from heat. Add scallions, drizzle with sesame oil, mix well, and transfer to a large serving bowl. Enjoy immediately.

Special Equipment

Wok or large nonstick skillet, large spatula

Notes

Look for rice noodles with the words "kong moon" on the label (Kong Moon, also romanized as jiangmen, is a city in the Guangdong region of China). There are a few brands that make kong moon-style rice noodles. The Double Swallow brand is my personal favorite, but others will work as long as they have that "kong moon" label.

I often use Madras curry powder from a brand called Trong Food, which can be found at some Chinese or Vietnamese supermarkets. You don't have to use this brand, though, as a more generic curry powder from your local supermarket will do as well.

FAQs

What are Singapore rice noodles made of? ›

Singapore-style noodles (Chinese: 星洲炒米; pinyin: xīngzhōu chǎomǐ; Jyutping: sing1 zau1 caau2 mai5) is a dish of stir-fried cooked rice vermicelli, curry powder, vegetables, scrambled eggs and meat, most commonly char siu pork, and/or prawn or chicken.

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What is the difference between Chinese and Singapore noodles? ›

Singapore fried noodle is just stir-fried rice vermicelli with a bit of tumeric added to it. Stir fried vermicelli is widely served in many parts of South China and the tumeric is there to give it a hint of Southeast Asian exoticness (to the Chinese who don't use tumeric in their cooking).

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Why are Singapore noodles so good? ›

Singapore Noodles taste so delicious due to the combination of spices used to season the dish. Curry powder and white pepper have a distinct flavor that is a little spicy, warm, and savory. When combined with soy sauce and oil they all make for the most delicious flavor.

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Why is it called Singapore noodles? ›

Instead, the dish was created in Hong Kong sometime after WWII by Cantonese chefs who were keen to find a use for curry powder — a recent addition to the southern Chinese pantry via British colonies. The dish was named 'Singapore noodles' as a nod to the cosmopolitan nature of both city-states.

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What makes Singapore noodles different? ›

Singapore noodles are heavily seasoned in curry powder, which can create a mouthfeel that is gritty or grainy when not prepared properly. My mother, who made Singapore-style noodles often following that trip, humbly brags that her version of the dish is “silkier” than the ones found in many restaurants.

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What is the difference between Singapore noodles and normal noodles? ›

Singapore noodle is made of thin rice noodles, chicken, shrimp, roast pork, eggs, and veggies. The main flavoring is curry powder. Once of the biggest difference between the two is that Singapore noodles is made of rice noodles, while chow mein is made with thin egg noodles made of wheat flour.

What is the difference between rice noodles and Singapore noodles? ›

“Sing chow” - Singapore fry - distinctiveness is the use of curry powder in the rice noodle and because Singapore is located in Southeast Asia where curry is common, the naming of the dish reflects the logical thinking process of Cantonese cooks.

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Is Pad Thai the same as Singapore noodles? ›

Singapore noodles remind me of Lo Mein or Pad Thai, only there's curry powder stirred into the sauce, so it's slightly spicy, salty, and tangy, with a hint of sweetness. It's not as saucy as a Thai curry sauce, but the flavor is amazing, even without a creamy sauce.

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What are Singapore rice noodles called? ›

Singapore Noodles are made with thin rice noodles called vermicelli noodles. They're very common nowadays, sold at all supermarkets.

Are Singapore noodles healthy? ›

Yes, Singapore rice noodles are healthy as they are packed with veggies and very little added sugar or fat. Pair it with some protein for a well-balanced meal.

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Are Singapore noodles the same as vermicelli? ›

Despite their name, Singapore noodles—a curried rice vermicelli that's so popular on menus around the world—did not originate in Singapore. In fact, their origins don't even lie in Southeast Asia.

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Why do Asians put cheese in noodles? ›

Cheese is naturally rich in free glutamates, a building block for umami flavor, and ramen is already packed with umami. By adding cheese, you also add fat and carbohydrates, further enriching the broth.

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What is the difference between chow mein and Singapore noodles? ›

The 2 main differences between Singapore noodles and chow mein is the type of noodles and the sauce. Singapore noodles are made with rice vermicelli noodles, chow mein is made with chow mein egg noodles, and Singapore noodles have curry mixed into the sauce whereas chow mein sauce is a simple soy sauce based sauce.

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Why are Singapore noodles yellow? ›

Singapore noodle sauce

It's OK to use regular soy sauce, but light soy sauce won't add too much color to the sauce so your noodles will have a beautiful yellow color at the end. Curry powder is the main ingredient to give the dish the signature taste and bright yellow color.

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What is the difference between Hong Kong noodles and Singapore noodles? ›

Singapore noodles are yellow in colour (usually), and rest is like hakka noodles. Lots of vegetables and chicken (if it's non vegetarian). It is prepared with thin stringed chowmein. Hong Kong noodles, on the other hand, are red in colour (usually) or brown (according to the frying time).

Are Singapore rice noodles healthy? ›

Yes, Singapore rice noodles are healthy as they are packed with veggies and very little added sugar or fat. Pair it with some protein for a well-balanced meal.

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Are Singapore rice noodles good for you? ›

While Singapore noodles are low in calories and fat, and a good source of fiber and protein, it is a high-sodium dish. A 1-cup serving contains 312 to 800 milligrams of sodium. A high-sodium diet may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.

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What is the difference between Singapore noodles and chow mein? ›

The dishes have different origins, noodle types, flavours, and ingredients. Chow Mein is a Chinese dish with stir-fried egg noodles, veggies, and meat, seasoned with soy sauce. Singapore Noodles, is made with rice vermicelli, curry powder, veggies, and meat or seafood, giving it a slightly spicy flavour.