Rice Noodles

Rice noodles, which are called ‘fun noodles’, are popular in southern China and throughout Hong Kong. They can be found either dried or fresh in Chinese shops here. If fresh they must be cooked immediately. They are white and come in a variety of shapes, from hair-thin strands that are dry and brittle to thin, flat varieties that resemble fettucine. They are known by all sorts of names: rice-stick noodles, rice vermicelli, rice pasta. They can also vary in thickness and are about the length of a chopstick. Either use the type called for in the recipes or substitute, as they can be used interchangeably. Rice noodles are very easy to use. Simply soak them in warm water for ten to twenty minutes, depending on the thickness, until they are soft.