Is Chow Mei Fun Gluten-Free?

The answer is Yes.

Because the noodles in chow mei fun are made of rice and water, they are typically free of gluten. In addition, the meal include vegetables, barbecued pork and occasionally chicken or prawns. After soaking in hot water until tender, the noodles are stir-fried along with the other ingredients. Curry powder, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and sesame oil are common seasonings for the dish.

What is Chow Mei Fun?

Cantonese translation of Chow Mei Fun (sometimes called Chow Mai Fun) is “fried rice vermicelli noodles.” The rice noodles, which are made from rice and water, are stir-fried with eggs, veggies, barbecued pork and occasionally prawns or chicken after being soaked in boiling water to soften them.

Since this cuisine originates in Hong Kong and is not seen in Singapore, the label “Singapore noodles” is rather misleading! But the golden colour and flavour that the curry powder flavour adds pay homage to South Asian cuisines.

Ingredients

For a one-stop shop, the ingredients for chow mei fun typically call for a trip to an Asian grocery store. What you’ll need is as follows:

Mizuna (rice noodles): You can get this rice vermicelli online or at any Asian grocery shop. Because they are produced only with rice and water, they are often free of gluten.
Vegetables: Bell peppers and other types of peppers work well too, but the classic options are carrots, cabbage, and onions.
Char siu, or Chinese barbecued pork: Any Chinese deli or restaurant that serves fresh BBQ pork can make authentic chow mei fun. It’s roasted pork with a subtle sweetness and smokiness. Try hard Chinese sausage (lop cheung) if you can’t find any.
Use large or jumbo prawns that have been peeled, deveined and have had their tails removed. If they’re frozen, make sure they’re completely thawed.
Optional: Dried red chilli peppers: These are your typical red cayenne peppers; if you’d rather, you may instead use red pepper flakes.
Eggs: Beaten eggs are frequently added in this recipe, but they are not required.
Curry powder: This is a typical, broadly accessible spice.
Shaoxing wine: The Chinese cooking wine that can be bought online or in Asian supermarkets. Rice wine vinegar and sherry, particularly cooking sherry, are suitable alternatives.
Soy sauce: It’s advised to use a good low-sodium brand like San-J or Kikkoman.
Asian sesame oil: Available online or at Asian grocery stores, this is toasted sesame oil with a caramel colour.
Green onions: For flavour and colour, fresh green onions, also known as scallions, are a crucial garnish towards the end of cooking.

How to Cook Mei Fun Noodles

In order to make mei fun noodles, bring a large pot of water to a boil. After the water reaches a boiling point, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the noodles.
After the noodles are soft and supple, let them rest in the hot water for about five minutes. To halt the cooking process, drain the noodles and rinse with cold water. You can now use the noodles!

How to Make Chicken Mei Fun

As directed on the package, soak the rice noodles in either hot or cold water for approximately 10 minutes until they are al dente.

First, soak the noodles in hot water for five to ten minutes, or until they are soft, before making chicken mei fun. Next, heat a wok or skillet to medium-high. Add the chopped ginger and garlic and fry until fragrant, then add the chicken breast slices. After the meat is no longer pink, add the cut onions, carrots, and bell peppers.

When the veggies are soft, combine everything in the pan, including the drained noodles. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a small teaspoon of sugar for seasoning. Before serving, garnish with finely sliced scallions.

Prepare the additional ingredients during the soaking time. Put the prawns aside and defrost as necessary. If you want to, you can beat the eggs and chop the veggies and pork. To make stir-frying easier, it’s also a good idea to measure out the amounts of sesame oil, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and curry powder.

You are now prepared to stir-fry. Heat a big nonstick skillet or wok to medium-high temperature. Once heated, add one tablespoon of oil and sauté the prawns and pork for one minute before transferring them to a platter. Using a wooden spoon, mix the veggies and red peppers for 3–4 minutes until they are soft.

It’s time to stir in the optional beaten eggs now. Push the vegetables to one side of the pan to create room in the centre. Add the eggs and use a spatula to scrape down the pan’s bottom for approximately a minute to scramble them.

Mixing everything together with the seasonings is the last step. After draining, add the noodles to the pan. Return the prawns and pork. Stir in the soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and curry powder. For approximately a minute, toss constantly to mix. The noodles ought to be becoming yellow now. Before serving, add the green onions and sesame oil, and give everything one more spin.

Chow Mei Fun Variations

Chicken Chow Mei Fun: Use chicken as the protein in the recipe. Cook the rice noodles according to package instructions, add the sauce, and cook the chicken first. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions and serve hot.
Beef Chow Mei Fun: Instead of using prawns or chicken as the protein, use sliced beef. Steak selections that are excellent include flank, skirt, and sirloin steaks.
Shrimp Chow Mei Fun: For a tasty and light variation ideal for seafood enthusiasts, use shrimp as your protein source.

Check out this recipe of Singapore noodles.

What Chinese Sauces are Gluten-Free?

While some Chinese sauces have gluten as a main ingredient or a thickening agent, others are naturally gluten-free. It’s crucial to make sure the sauces are gluten-free by reading the label or asking the personnel at the restaurant. Chinese sauces that are gluten-free include rice vinegar, fish sauce, oyster sauce (which is manufactured without wheat), and tamari (a wheat-free soy sauce). Conversely, the following popular Chinese sauces are known to contain gluten:
Soy Sauce Blend: Soy sauce is traditionally produced from fermented soybeans and wheat. But there is soy sauce without gluten that is prepared with other grains, such rice or soy.

Hoisin Sauce: To thicken the sauce, wheat flour is frequently added. There are variations without gluten.
Oyster Sauce: To thicken the sauce, wheat flour may be used. There are variations without gluten.
Plum Sauce: Wheat flour is sometimes used as a thickening ingredient in plum sauces. For options that are gluten-free, read the label.
Bean Sauce: Wheat flour may be an ingredient in some bean sauce varieties. Look for gluten-free options on the label.
Sweet and Sour Sauce: Wheat flour may be an ingredient in several sweet and sour sauces. There are variations without gluten.

Tips to Order Gluten-Free Chinese Food

If you’re ordering Chinese food without gluten, keep the following in mind:
Inquire with the staff about the preparation of the food and gluten-free options.
Steer clear of recipes that call for wheat, such dumplings, spring rolls, and meat meals that have been breaded.
Indicate that, in order to prevent cross-contamination, you need a gluten-free preparation. For made-to-order meals as opposed to cafeteria-style eateries that serve premade food, this request makes more sense.

Conclusion

I hope this essay has helped you understand your options if you’ve been wondering if you can still enjoy your favourite gluten-free stir-fried noodle dish, chow mei, as long as it’s free of gluten. By now you can answer this question “Is Chow mei fun gluten-free?” Making your own gluten-free chow mei at home with components you can be sure are gluten-free is often your best option.

Check out other post:

Does Yakisoba Have Gluten? Easy to Make Vegetable Yakisoba

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Is Chow Mei Fun Gluten-Free?