What is the best way to stir fry rice vermicelli without breaking it

How to keep your rice noodles or rice vermicelli from breaking. We will show you step by step 

the best way how to cook your rice noodles without breaking in our fried rice noodle with fish sauce recipe.

The number one most important tip to avoid rice noodles from breaking during stir fry is 

DO NOT PRE BOIL YOUR RICE NOODLES.

You just need to soak your noodles for 15 minutes in room temperature water to rehydrate them until they're limp but still firm to the touch 

Drain the noodles thoroughly in a colander and cut them into 4 portion.

 

Cutting the rice noodles shorter will help so the meat and vegetables can mix easily into the noodles.

Since noodles symbolize long life in Chinese culture, what we are doing cutting these rice noodles is considered very unlucky but common-sense precede all superstitions.

Lets start by preparing our Fish sauce mixture

2 tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1/2 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon vinegar

For the main ingredient 

Shallots
Garlic
Red chilies
Green chilies
Shitake mushrooms
Spring onion
Carrots. 
Turkey meatloaf. 

For extra flavor, we will add fried anchovies to our rice noodles. 

Tip number 2 is making sure ENOUGH oil is added to the wok to stir fry your rice noodles. Rice noodles tend to stick to the wok or pan if it is lacking cooking oil. When they stick to the wok then you will have broken rice noodles because you end up tearing them as you try hard to unstick them.

 

Add your garlic, shallots, dried anchovies and sliced turkey meatloaf. 

Cook them for a minute or two.

 

Then add your vegetables red chilies, green chilies, spring onion, mushrooms and carrots

giving them a few toss for a minute.

 

Now it is time for our rice noodles to go in.

As you can see, we use two type of spatula to stir our rice noodles. 

This is our 3rd tip to keep rice noodles from breaking. Using a pair of chopsticks or tongs to turn the noodles around in the wok will minimize the movement. Aggressive move with sharp or hard items like steel spatula can break them easily.

Shorter noodles also helps that the meats and vegetables can be incorporated in between the noodles.

If it is too long, then all you will only see is a huge bundle of white noodles.

 Our 4th tip to take note is that the longer you cook your noodles in heat the softer they will become.

Now you can add your fish sauce mixture to the rice noodles.

 

As you already know rice noodles will start to soften in heat.

Our 5th tip is knowing that adding water or sauce to your noodles will soften it further. Therefore try not to add the sauce too early in your cooking. Preferably after the vegetables are softened to your liking then you add the sauce. 

And do not forget to taste test the noodles adding up more fish sauce or soy sauce if not salty or flavorful enough.

Serve immediately in bowls or plates topped with a sprinkling of fresh basil or coriander.