Recently in the forum I received a request for a chow mei fun recipe. Mei fun, or mai fun simply means rice noodles, which are the same as what we in the US call vermicelli noodles. They are also sometimes called rice sticks as well. These noodles are usually soaked and then stir fried with a variety of ingredients. The best thing about these noodles is that you can add almost any vegetable or meat and create endless combinations of flavors!

Mai fun can usually be found in the ethnic section of your local grocery store. If you have trouble finding these noodles, or want to see a picture of what you are looking for, simply scroll down to see the link below. It will take you to Amazon.com where they also sell these noodles. You can also substitute with regular vermicelli noodles as well.

In my experimentation with these wonderful noodles, I have created a recipe that is both super easy and delicious! This is a simple vegetarian version of mei fun that I serve as a side dish. If you want to make this dish a main course, simply stir fry some chicken, shrimp or other meat before stir frying the other ingredients.

16oz pkg rice sticks (Py Mai Fun) (Rice Vermicelli Noodles)
14oz can Delmonte Mixed Vegetables
18 oz can bean sprouts
2 stalks green onion
2 tbsp stir fry oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
½ cup chicken broth
½ tsp salt

1. Fill a large bowl with luke warm water. Remove the noodles from their package and break them in half over the bowl. Submerge them and let them soak for 20 minutes. I know Chinese tradition states never to break noodles because they represent longevity, but breaking them in this recipe makes it so much easier to stir fry them!


2. While the noodles are soaking, rinse and dice the green onion. Then open and drain both the can of bean sprouts and the can of mixed vegetables.


3. Once the noodles have soaked, thoroughly drain them in a colander.


4. In a non stick pot or wok, heat the oil on high.


5. Add the bean sprouts, canned vegetables and noodles and stir fry them for about 2 minutes. The best way to mix these ingredients together is to stir fry them with either chopsticks or a fork. However if you use a fork, be careful not to scrape the bottom of your non stick pot or wok.


6. Add the soy sauce and chicken broth and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and add the scallions and salt. Toss and serve.


7. Makes 4 servings.

Here is a picture of the mai fun sold at Amazon.com.