Vermicelli noodles (one pan)

Vermicelli noodles (one pan)

 vermicelli noodles bowl

And ‘bam’ just like that, winter is coming…can you feel that chill in the air, the sun is low in the sky, and the leaves are starting to swirl in the blustering winds. If you are feeling the cold and are in need of some low-effort comfort, I have a perfect recipe for you today – vermicelli noodles. This simple bowl of noodles has been one of my favourite lately. It’s really easy and quick to make, full of satiating fibre and plant-based protein (in either the form of peanuts or tofu if you want to go the extra mile). All in all, these vermicelli noodles are super satisfying and, this is the best bit, all of the action takes place in a single wok. Perfect, right?

What I love about these vermicelli noodles, flavour and texture alone, is how quickly and easy they are to make. If you want – especially if roasting peanuts or baking tofu for several days – you can use your oven for the peanuts or tofu. This makes this component pretty much hands off and, in the case of tofu, much healthier as less oil is needed. But if you are making this dish without an oven like if you are in a rented apartment or are having your kitchen renovated (oh how I dream of having mine done at some point), you can simply toast your peanuts or fry your tofu in the same wok ahead of making the noodles.

vermicelli noodles ingredients

MORE ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS

VEGETABLES: This part is very flexible, use any fresh, seasonal vegetables you like and have access to. Aside from the ones I’ve listed, I also made this meal with carrots matchsticks, young cabbage and tenderstem broccoli.

RICE NOODLES: I used thin vermicelli rice noodles to make this dish quick and convenient. Rice vermicelli (this is the brand I used) are sometimes referred to as vermicelli noodles as they do not require any precooking. I simply cook them in a little water in the wok until tender, season and toss with stir-fried vegetables and that’s it.

vermicelli noodles

PEANUTS: Peanuts not only just add a delicious crunch, but they are also an excellent source of protein – 100 g of peanuts has 26 g of protein. I recommend roasting them gently in the oven (or in a pan/wok) to intensify their taste. As roasted peanuts keep for ages, I tend to roast a big batch at once and add them to various dishes that call for a sprinkling of roasted peanuts. If you cannot have peanuts, sub them with cashews.

vermicelli noodles peanuts

SOY SAUCE I use all purpose soy sauce to marinate the tofu and to create a simple dressing. If you want to keep these vegan rice bowls gluten-free, use tamari instead.

RICE WINE VINEGAR I like to use a little acidity to the dressing by adding a splash of rice wine vinegar, but you can also just use a squeeze of lime instead.

MAPLE SYRUP I use a small amount of maple syrup to have a counterpoint to the acidity in the dressing, sugar will work just as well.

TOASTED SESAME OIL A small amount of toasted sesame oil gives the dressing a bit of viscosity and beautiful nutty flavour.

GARLIC A small amount of garlic adds a lot of flavour and aroma to the dressing. You can also incorporate some freshly grated ginger if you wish but it’s not necessary.

CHILLI SAUCE I like a little kick in my dressing so I add a but of chilli sauce to the dressing, but you can skip it if hot food isn’t your thing.

TOFU: To make this simple stir-fry even more satiating and richer in plant protein, I sometimes use firm tofu which I marinated just in soy sauce for ease. I bake it in the oven when I want a healthier meal or pan fry it until crispy if I feel like something more indulgent. For pan-frying, I recommend lifting the tofu out of the marinade, coating it in cornstarch / cornflour on all sides, arranging on a thin layer of pre-heated oil and frying until golden on all sides.

vermicelli noodles tofu

vermicelli noodles veg noodles

Stir-fry all of the vegetables in the preheated wok, starting from the hardiest (beans) to the softest (spring onions). Stir-fry until lightly charred, no longer raw but still a little crunchy. Transfer stir-fried veggies out of the wok and set aside, fill wok with water and add vermicelli noodles.

vermicelli noodles cooked noodles

Cook the noodles in the water, agitating them regularly, until all of the water has been absorbed, the noodles are pliant and almost completely cooked through. Stir the sauce through then add the veggies back in.

vermicelli noodles done

Warm everything up, divide between the bowls and top with roasted peanuts and baked/fried tofu (if using).

vermicelli noodles wok

vermicelli noodles side

vermicelli noodles chop sticks

serves
2
PREP
10 min
COOKING
10 min
serves
2
PREPARATION
10 min
COOKING
10 min
INGREDIENTS

STIR-FRY SAUCE

  • 30 ml / 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari if GF)
  • 10 ml / 2 tsp dark soy sauce (for colour)
  • 20 ml / 1½ tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 10 ml / 1 tsp maple syrup (or sugar), adjust to taste
  • 5 ml / 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 garlic clove, finely grated
  • 5-10 ml / 1-2 tsp chilli sauce (like Sriracha), adjust to taste

NOODLES

  • 3 spring onions / scallions
  • ½ bell pepper
  • 1 cob of corn OR ½ cup canned/defrosted corn kernels
  • 150 g / 5.3 oz green beans
  • 15 ml / 3 tsp high smoke point oil (I use bran rice)
  • 100 g / 3.5 oz rice vermicelli noodles
  • 60 g / scant ½ cup roasted peanuts (or cashews)

TOFU (optional)

  • 300 g / 10.5 firm tofu (I use smoked tofu but regular works well too), pressed
  • 20 ml / 1½ tbsp soy sauce (or tamari if GF)
  • 10 ml / 2 tsp oil

METHOD

STIR-FRY SAUCE

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a jar, screw the lid on and shake well to emulsify. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

NOODLES

  1. Cut white and light-green parts of spring onions into 1.25 cm / 0.5 inch segments. Slice one dark green top finely for serving and leave the rest for another dish.
  2. Cut pepper into thin strips, shave corn kernels off the cob, top and tail the beans and cut into 2 cm / 0.75″ segments.
  3. Preheat a wok until starting to smoke lightly. Add a teaspoon of oil, swirl it around and add the beans. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes before adding pepper, corn and finally spring onion segments. Add another teaspoon or two of oil to the wok when it’s is looking dry. Carry on stir-frying until all the veggies are no longer raw (but still a little crunchy) and charred in places.
  4. Remove the veggies from the wok and set aside. Pour 360 ml (1½ cups) of water (or stock) into the wok and place the noodles on top. After a few seconds, flip the noodles using kitchen tongs.
  5. Carry on cooking the noodles (use kitchen tongs to help the noodles untangle) until all of the liquid has been absorbed and the noodles are pliant yet with a little bit resistance left. Taste a tiny bit to be sure and if your noodles are still tough, add a splash more water and carry on cooking them for a little longer.
  6. Stir the sauce through the softened noodles, add vegetables back to the wok (and tofu if using). Stir-fry everything for a few seconds – just to warm up – then divide between bowls, top with peanuts and spring onion tops.

TOFU (optional)

  1. Cut pressed tofu into 1.25 cm / 0.5″ cubes. Combine soy sauce and 1 tbsp (15 ml) of water in large, flat bottomed dish and coat tofu cubed in the liquid. Allow to marinate for at least 1 hr, stirring every now and then.
  2. Heat up the oven to 200° C / 390° F (or 180° C / 355° F with fan) and grab a large baking tray. Lift tofu out of the marinade and arrange it on a lined baking tray, bake for about 15 minutes.
  3. Stir oil through the tofu and return to the oven for another 15 minutes (if using an already pressed brand of tofu, like Tofoo, 5-10 minutes is enough).

NOTES
*PEANUTS: if you only have raw peanuts, you can either roast them in the oven or on a hot skillet. To roast them in the oven, spread 150-300 g (1-2 cups) of peanuts on a paper lined baking tray and roast them at 180° C / 355° F (no fan) until golden – about 10 minutes depending on the amount of peanuts. To roast them on the hob, place a single layer of peanuts on a pre-heated dry pan and toss them frequently until charred and fragrant. Allow to cool after roasting. If you are allergic to peanuts, replace them with cashews.

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NUTRITIONAL INFO
calories
481
24%
sugars
9 g
10%
fats
24 g
35%
saturates
4 g
19%
proteins
22 g
45%
carbs
47 g
18%
*per 1 out of 3 servings
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5.0
11 reviews, 13 comments
REVIEWS & QUESTIONS
Holly:
We made this tonight and it was great! I subbed green beans for broccoli and added tofu. Everyone loved it, even my 2-year-old!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Holly, I am so happy to hear that this recipe went down so well with you and your family, including a little person - who can be difficult to please. Thank you for taking the time to review – I really appreciate it. Ania
Babette Haley:
Great recipes
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you, I appreciate your kind words! Ania
Adrienne Reid:
I am not a fan of tofu, so I left it out and added cooked chicken, cut into small cubes instead. I added it directly to the wok after all the vegetables had been added. It turned out great! This is going to be one of my new favourite recipes!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Great to hear that you enjoyed it so much, Adrienne. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Ania
Stefac:
This was amazing. My boyfriend said it was the best homemade noodles he’s ever had. It felt like we were eating in a restaurant! Thank you sooo much ♥️
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw thank you Steffi, I am so happy to hear that and thank you for taking the time to let me know. Ania
Karen:
I made this for dinner tonight and it was fabulous! I added 1 Tbsp of curry powder and 1 tsp of turmeric as I wanted it to be a bit more like Singapore Noodles and my family loved it! Thanks for such a delicious recipe! It is a keeper for sure.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Karen, I am really pleased to hear that you and your family enjoyed this dish so much. Thank you for taking the time to review, I really appreciate it. Ania
Emily:
Thank you for the recipe! I followed along to make my husband dinner on Valentine's Day!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Emily, I am delighted to hear that you and your husband enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Ania
Kate:
A fabulous Monday night dinner to start the week off on the right foot. We absolutely loved this recipe, especially with the smoked tofu (we used the Tofoo brand). Easily feeds 2 people and very yummy indeed. Another dish to be placed on our food rotation list! Thank you so much. x
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you Kate, I am so happy to hear that and yes, that's the brand I like to use too. I love the flavour and texture of it. Thank you for taking the time to review, I really appreciate it. Ania
Martha:
Fantastic! I didn't have dark soy, so I used tamari; didn't have bran rice oil, so used avocado; didn't read directions and bought silken tofu - a little messy (not pressed), but it worked! Never cooked with vermicelli before, but I will return to this recipe and try others. Best is that my husband loved it and didn't complain about the tofu...
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Martha, I am pleased to hear that this dish was such a success with both you and your husband. Thank you for taking the time to review, I really appreciate it. Ania
Kate:
A very yummy weeknight dinner, which I will have on my regular food rotation going forward. Love whole wheat vermicelli noodles, they make the dish. Had never used smoked tofu before, so tasty, especially in this dish. Thank you. X
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw thanks so much Kate, I am chuffed to bits that you enjoyed it so much. Yes, smoked tofu is delicious in this, I agree. Thanks so much for taking the time to review and I must have a look for wholewheat vermicelli as I have not come across them before, thanks for the tip. x Ania
Enja:
Yum!
I made this recently and we all loved it. I was a bit apprehensive about the amount of vinegar used, but it turned out great, even the 2-year old enjoyed it! The flavours combine so well and it comes together easily. I skipped the peanuts and used sesame seeds instead and I don't think anything was missing. Definitely give this a try!
    Ania
    Ania:
    That's amazing to hear that this dish was a hit with everyone including a 2 year old (I hear that little people can be really fussy ;) ). Thank you for letting me know Enja, I really appreciate it. As for peanuts, I intended for them to be used as a protein boost, a nice crunch and because they are a hands-off addition, but they are certainly optional especially if using tofu. x Ania
Helen:
excellent. a quick, delicious tea. thanks! I omitted garlic and put ginger in instead - very tasty.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw thanks Helen, I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed these and found them quick to me too. x Ania
Kerry:
Can you use already roasted salted peanuts from a packet?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Sure you can Kerry! Hope you'll enjoy this dish! x Ania
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