
Are you also a Chinese food lover? Today, this post will address the main question : is chow fun gluten-free? Also we’ll look at other Chinese dishes as well that are gluten-free. Chinese food is among the most ordered takeaway in the US, and for good reason—it’s really tasty! If you’re a fan of Chinese food, then you will find it difficult to find gluten-free options. The task of finding gluten-free Chinese food can be very challenging.
Let’s examine chow fun and other well-known Chinese foods to see if they fit into a gluten-free diet.
Is Chow Fun Gluten-free?
Chow fun in Asian cooking is almost always gluten-free. Rice noodles, or chow fun, are safe and healthy for human consumption because they are prepared from rice flour. In contrast, egg noodles, which are used to make chow mein, include wheat which means chow mein has gluten. Though chow fun will often be gluten-free, it’s best to double verify with your server. In order to assist the noodles maintain their firmness and shape, wheat flour is occasionally added.
What Is Chow Fun?
It’s likely that you’ve heard of chow mein, but maybe not chow fun! One of the main foods of the Cantonese people is chow fun. Typically, it has bean sprouts, hor fun, and meat. Chow mein and chow fun are not the same thing. Rice noodles are the primary element in chow fun, while egg noodles are in chow mein.
What Are Chow Fun Noodles Made Of?
Rice flour is used to make Chow Fun noodles. These noodles are up to 12 inches long and incredibly wide—at least an inch! Chow fun noodles are one of the rare Asian noodles that use rice flour as their primary ingredient instead of wheat flour, in contrast to many other Asian noodles. For this reason, chow fun is the ideal dish for anyone trying to cut off gluten.
Chow Fun Vs Mei Fun
Although the flavours and tastes of these two well-known Chinese meals are extremely similar, there is one significant distinction. We utilise wide, flat noodles for chow enjoyment. Mei Fun, on the other hand, employs thin noodles that resemble spaghetti. They are both eaten with a range of veggies and proteins other from the size of the noodles.
Chow Fun Or Chow Mein: Which One Is Healthier?
One dish is undoubtedly healthier than the other if you’re searching for something nutritious! The nutritional information for 100g of Chow Mein and 100g of Chow Fun differs significantly. About 500 calories are found in 100g of chow mein. Chow Fun has a little over 100 calories per 100g, in contrast. Chow Fun is unquestionably the best option if you’re searching for a nutritious meal!
Chow Fun Gluten-free Recipe
Why not attempt creating your own chow fun if you’re not sure if it’s gluten-free? It’s really tasty and comparatively simple. Additionally, you are free to add any veggies and proteins you choose! We’ll be examining this Beyond Celiac recipe for gluten-free food enjoyment.
Ingredients You’ll Need Are
Chow Fun
12oz. of chicken breast (in slices)
3 cups of rice noodles
7.5oz of bean sprouts
3oz of Chinese yellow chive (cut to 2 inches in length)
1/2 an onion (very thin slices)
2 pieces of ginger
Sauce
4 tbsp. of gluten-free soy sauce
2 tbsp. of sugar
Marinade
2 tsp. of gluten-free soy sauce
1/2 tsp. of salt
1/2 tsp. of sugar
1 1/2 tsp. of corn starch
1 tbsp. of white/rice wine
Direction
If you want to obtain the best taste gluten-free chow fun, just follow these easy instructions!
- Combine all the ingredients listed under “marinade” and use it to marinate the chicken.
- Combine the ingredients for the “sauce” in a small bowl and thoroughly combine. Set aside
- When the oil in a pan is hot, add the onion. Cook for around three minutes. After adding the chicken, simmer it for a couple more minutes, or until it’s cooked through.
- Heat the oil in a different pan and add the ginger. Add the beansprouts and chives after about a minute, and simmer for an additional two minutes.
- In a wok over high heat, add the rice noodles. Add the sauce and well mix after one minute.
- Add the beansprouts, chicken, and chives to the wok.
- Add seasoning and serve right away.
You can now enjoy your tasty Chinese delight!

Also check Gluten-free Chow mein recipe.
What Chinese Dishes Are Gluten-free?
Here are some Chinese takeaway options you might wish to try. Chow fun and Mei fun, two dishes that include rice or rice noodles as a base, are excellent places to start. Soba and glass noodles are two more types of noodles that are free of gluten. Simple meats and veggies are also good choices; just remember to bring your own gluten-free soy sauce! Chinese food frequently contains soy sauce, which isn’t naturally gluten free. If the dish appears to be dark in colour, it’s best to stay away from it. Additionally, always carry your own soy sauce.
There are many gluten-free Chinese dishes available, even though gluten-containing ingredients are common. Let’s investigate a few well-liked choices:
Steaming Veggies
Generally gluten-free and nutrient-dense, steaming veggies are an easy and nutritious option.
Hot and Sour Soup
This traditional Chinese soup can be prepared gluten-free by omitting the wheat noodles.
Rice and Stir-Fried Chicken
Stir-fried chicken with rice is a tasty and high-protein dish that can be customised with your own vegetables and is typically prepared using gluten-free soy sauce.
Egg Rolls
Some Chinese restaurants have gluten-free egg rolls made with rice paper, while classic egg rolls are made using wrappers made of wheat.
Plain White Rice
A cornerstone of Chinese cooking, rice is a safe, gluten-free choice to go with any meal.
Watch this video for a vegetarian Chow Fun recipe.
Health Benefits of Gluten-Free Chinese Food
There are many health advantages to trying Chinese food and being gluten-free:
Increased Nutrient Intake: Lean proteins, fresh veggies, and gluten-free grains are frequently found in gluten-free Chinese cuisine, all of which support a balanced and nutrient-dense diet.
Decreased Digestive Discomfort: Removing gluten from the diet can help those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity feel less uncomfortable in their digestive tract. These symptoms include gas, diarrhoea, and bloating.
Various Flavour Profiles: Chinese food that is gluten-free offers a delicious culinary experience with a variety of flavours ranging from savoury and mild to spicy and acidic.
Focus on Whole Foods: Whole, unprocessed ingredients are a common feature in gluten-free Chinese cuisine, supporting general health and wellbeing.
Chinese Cooking Techniques and Gluten-Free Adaptations
Chinese cooking methods can offer a guide for locating gluten-free recipes and making the necessary substitutions.
Here are some methods and recipes to think about:
Stir-frying: Stir-frying is a common high-heat cooking technique used in Chinese cuisine. This is a flexible method that may be used to make gluten-free foods by using soy sauce that is free of gluten and replacing wheat noodles with rice or thin rice noodles.
Steaming: In Chinese cookery, steaming is a healthful, gluten-free cooking method. Steamed foods like chicken, veggies, or fish are great options for anyone on a gluten-free diet.
Rice Noodles and Rice Paper: These gluten-free substitutes for wheat-based noodles and wrappers are rice noodles and rice paper. They work well in a variety of recipes, including rice paper rolls, spring rolls, and gluten-free noodle soups.
Gluten-Free Batter: You can make Chinese foods like fried rice or fried chicken gluten-free by using a batter produced with rice flour or a gluten-free batter mix, which are gluten-free flour substitutes.

Conclusion
I hope that this post has provided some clarification on the subject: is chow fun gluten-free? and made you better acquainted with additional gluten-free Chinese cuisine. I usually steer clear of Chinese takeaway because it’s so hard to locate gluten-free options. We can only hope that more well-known dishes will be modified in the future so that people who are sensitive to gluten can start enjoying Chinese food once more!
Also read:
Does Knorr Rice Have Gluten? (3 Delicious Alternatives To Try In 2024)
Does Samosas Have Gluten? Learn Gluten-free Samosa Recipe In 6 Easy Steps







