Shrimp mei fun, also known as shrimp rice noodles, is a mouthwatering and widely beloved Chinese noodle dish. This shrimp mei fun recipe typically features tender shrimp stir-fried with rice noodles and colorful vegetables, all seasoned with a savory sauce.
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In some Chinese households, shrimp mei fun is a staple dish during the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is believed to symbolize longevity and is often served to bring good luck for the coming year. Nowadays, shrimp mei fun has gained popularity in Chinese-American cuisine and is frequently offered on takeout menus. Its quick preparation and rich flavors make it a convenient and satisfying choice for diners. In this blog post, I'll walk you through and provide a step-by-step guide on how to make it in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Mei fun: Mei fun noodles are basically thin rice noodles that have been used in Asian cuisine for centuries. They are made of rice flour, also called rice stick noodles. They are a popular choice for stir-frying due to their quick cooking time and ability to absorb flavors effectively. You can get it from any Asian market. Of all the different types of noodles, mei fun is one of my favorites!
Shrimp: I used extra large peeled, deveined, and tail on shrimp. Whether you use shrimp with the tail on or off depends on your personal preference. To me, shrimp cooked with the tails on seem to retain slightly more flavor. Plus, shrimp with tail on look more visually appealing.:)
Eggs: Eggs contribute a rich flavor to the stir-fry. They can absorb the flavors of the other ingredients in the stir-fry.
Carrot strips(cut into thin strips), sweet onions (chopped), and green onions (chopped): You can also add bean sprouts, napa cabbage, green beans, snow peas, or bok choy.
Cooking oil: Use any oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, or canola oil.
Light soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine: These sauces are essential for creating a flavorful stir-fry mei fun dish. Add a teaspoon of dark soy sauce if you want your mei fun to have a darker color.
Cooking process step-by-step
Place the Mei Fun rice noodles in a large pot and cover them with warm water. Let them soak for about 15 minutes until they become soft but slightly firm.
Drain the noodles and, coat the drained noodles with a teaspoon of oil to prevent sticking, and set them aside.
In a bowl, combine the shrimp with a pinch of salt, pepper, and one tablespoon of Shaoxing wine. Let the shrimp marinate for 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavors.
In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, a pinch of sugar, and the remaining Shaoxing wine. Set the sauce aside.
Place a wok or a large pan over high heat. Add the vegetable oil and let it heat for a moment. Add the marinated shrimp to the hot wok. Stir-fry the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the wok and set them aside.
In the same wok, scramble the beaten eggs and set aside.
Again, in the same wok or a large skillet, add a bit more oil if needed. Add the chopped sweet onions and carrot strips into the wok and stir-fry until the vegetables soften and fragrant. About 2-3 minutes.
Add the mei fun rice noodles to the wok with the vegetables. Pour the sauce over the noodles. Toss everything together with tongs, ensuring the noodles and vegetables are well-coated with the sauce.
Return the cooked shrimp and scrambled eggs to the wok. Combine everything in the wok and stir-fry until well-mixed. Lastly, add the green onion chunks and continue to stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes or until everything is heated through and well combined.
Serve hot, and enjoy your homemade shrimp mei fun!
Shrimp mei fun variations
Shrimp mei fun is a versatile dish. Here are some popular variations you can explore to add to your meals:
- Mei fun has evolved and adapted in various regions of China. Different provinces might add unique twists, such as the Sichuan style, which adds spicier elements like chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns.
- Chicken mei fun: Swap out shrimp for thinly sliced chicken breast or thigh meat. You can marinate the chicken in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for added flavor.
- Vegetable mei fun: Create a vegetarian version by omitting the shrimp and adding more vegetables like broccoli, choy sum, baby corn, and mushrooms. Tofu can also be added for protein.
- Beef mei fun: Use thinly sliced beef, such as flank steak, and stir-fry until tender. Like chicken, you can marinate it in soy sauce and some cornstarch for added flavor and tenderness.
- Curry mei fun: Add in some curry powder or paste, mix it with the sauce, and add into mei fun for a unique flavor.
- Seafood mei fun: Combine shrimp with other seafood like scallops, squid, or mussels to create a seafood flavor.
Feel free to get creative and mix and match ingredients to create your unique versions of shrimp mei fun recipe!
Tips and tricks for making perfect shrimp mei fun
To make perfect shrimp mei fun, consider these pro tips to enhance the flavor and texture of the dish:
- Prep everything in advance: Measure and prepare all the ingredients before cooking. Mei fun comes together quickly, so having everything ready and coating some oil into the mei fun before cooking will prevent overcooking or burning.
- Soak the rice noodles correctly: Follow the package directions for soaking the mei fun rice noodles. Don't over-soak them; they should still be slightly firm since they will be stir-fried later.
- Stir-fry shrimp separately: Cook the shrimp first and remove them from the wok. This prevents overcooking.
- Be careful not to burn the chopped onions. Stir-fry them for just 30 seconds or until fragrant before adding the vegetables.
- Stir-frying is done at high heat. Ensure your stove is set to the highest setting to achieve the characteristic "wok hei" flavor and quick cooking.
By following these pro tips, you can elevate your shrimp mei fun recipe to the next level.
Storage and Reheating
After cooking, allow your shrimp mei fun to cool to room temperature. Do not leave it out too long; transfer the shrimp mei fun to an airtight container. Refrigerate it within two hours. Shrimp mei fun can typically be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
You can reheat your leftover shrimp mei fun in the microwave: Place shrimp mei fun on a microwave-safe plate. Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small vent to allow steam to escape. Reheat in 30-second intervals, checking for doneness between each interval. Gently fluff and stir the noodles during reheating to ensure even heating. Repeat until the dish is hot throughout.
You can also reheat your shrimp mei fun on the stove: Heat a non-stick pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add a small amount of oil to the pan to prevent sticking. Place the shrimp mei fun in the pan and stir-fry it for a few minutes until it's heated through.
It is worth mentioning that during the reheating process, you can add a splash of water or broth when reheating on the stovetop to prevent the noodles from drying out. Try to avoid reheating shrimp mei fun multiple times, as this can affect its quality.
Final thoughts
This authentic Asian dish combines shrimp with various vegetables and rice noodles, offering you a balanced healthy meal. It is a great way to serve a quick dinner for the whole family. Give shrimp mei fun recipe a try next time, and let me know how yours turns out. Happy cooking.:)
Easy Shrimp Mei Fun Recipe (Stir Fry Rice Noodles)
Ingredients
- 12 oz mei fun
- 12 oz shrimp about 20 shrimp
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup carrot strips
- 1 cup sweet onions chopped
- 1 cup green onions chopped
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- a pinch of sugar
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce optional
Instructions
- Place the Mei Fun rice noodles in a large pot and cover them with warm water. Let them soak for about 15 minutes until they become soft but slightly firm. Drain the noodles and, coat the drained noodles with a teaspoon of oil to prevent sticking, and set them aside.
- In a bowl, combine the shrimp with a pinch of salt, pepper, and one tablespoon of Shaoxing wine. Let the shrimp marinate for 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, a pinch of sugar, and the remaining Shaoxing wine. Set the sauce aside.
- Place a wok or a large pan over high heat. Add the vegetable oil and let it heat for a moment. Add the marinated shrimp to the hot wok. Stir-fry the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the wok and set them aside.
- In the same wok, scramble the beaten eggs and set aside.
- Again, in the same wok or a large skillet, add a bit more oil if needed. Add the chopped sweet onions and carrot strips into the wok and stir-fry until the vegetables soften and fragrant. About 2-3 minutes.
- Add the mei fun rice noodles to the wok with the vegetables. Pour the sauce over the noodles. Toss everything together with tongs, ensuring the noodles and vegetables are well-coated with the sauce.
- Return the cooked shrimp and scrambled eggs to the wok. Combine everything in the wok and stir-fry until well-mixed. Lastly, add the green onion chunks and continue to stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes or until everything is heated through and well combined.
- Serve hot, and enjoy your homemade shrimp mei fun!
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