Rice Noodles

Rice noodles are popular in southern China, where they are widely known as Sha He noodles, the name deriving from a small village outside the city of Guangzhou (Canton). The fresh ones are called “fen noodles,” and are prepared in a different manner (see Fen Noodles). The dried noodles are opaque white and come in a variety of shapes. One of the most common examples is rice stick noodles, which are flat and about the length of a chopstick. They can also vary in thickness. Use the type called for in the recipes. Rice noodles are very easy to use. Simply soak them in warm water for 20 minutes until they are soft. Drain them in a colander or a sieve and they are then ready to be used in soups or to be stir-fried.