We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Cooking

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Make Chow Fun?

By Janis Adams
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 9,015
Share

Known as shahe fen in China, chow fun is a rice noodle dish that is stir fried, most commonly with beef and vegetables. There are many combinations of this basic dish that substitute chicken or seafood for the beef. Chow fun is also made as a vegetarian dish, with bean curd and bean sprouts along with the traditional vegetables of the meat version.

To make chow fun, the noodles should be purchased fresh, as they do not freeze or dry well. When purchased fresh, these noodles must be hand cut. This allows the cook to size the noodles to his or her personal preference. The traditional way to cut the noodle is in a wide form, similar to the width of the Italian pasta fettuccine.

Due to their high absorbency, the broad noodles used for chow fun tend to soak up the flavorings from whatever they are cooked with. Their texture rather than their taste makes chow fun noodles so unique. Prior to cooking the noodles, it is best to rinse them in warm water, which allows the noodles to cook evenly and to remain whole during the cooking process. Often when the noodles are not rinsed, they will tear instead of remaining in one long piece when being stirred.

The cooking time for the noodles is very short. If the noodles are overcooked, they become gooey and sticky and do not maintain their shape. Some cooks choose to merely pass the noodles through boiling water or even to simply wash them while in a strainer with boiling water.

As chow fun is cooked in a wok, the stir-frying process is twofold. First, the ingredients, such as the meat and vegetables and any sauce, are cooked. Once finished cooking, these ingredients are removed from the wok. A small amount of oil is then added to the wok. Once the oil is quite hot, garlic is traditionally added to the oil. As soon as the garlic has lightly browned, the noodles are then stir fried until they are brown.

As the noodles are the focal point of the dish, they must be watched constantly during the cooking process so that they do not over-cook. Once cooked, all the ingredients that were cooked separately from the noodles are then added to the noodles in the wok. Noodles and the other ingredients are tossed together and then served steaming hot.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/how-do-i-make-chow-fun.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.