Fun See (Toisan Style Stir-fried Bean Thread Noodles)
Thank you, KA-ME, sponsoring this post!
Alright, time for the next course in our Lunar New Year menu! Actually, have I mentioned yet that you’re supposed to have at least 8 dishes on the table for good luck? 8 in Chinese sounds like “rich” or “wealthy” which is why Chinese people are so obsessed with attaining that number is all facets of their lives. I think there’s at least 12 dishes available when my family hosts a proper New Year feast, but since it’s just going to be the two of us this year I’m going to aim for 8 and hope that an orange counts as one of the dishes.
Every dish holds some sort of symbolism. Noodles are served to represent a long life, so the longer the noodle the longer life you’ll have! You have to remember to never cut your noodles or bite down them when you’re eating… that’s a big no-no! Just remember to slurp and your life should be set : )
My family serves, what we call, Fun See at every big family dinner. Whether it’s a celebratory dinner or just everyone gathering for Sunday night dinner, you’ll find a heaping platter of these noodles. It’s one of my favorite dishes and I always grab a big helping of them first when dinner is served! I knew I absolutely needed to serve them this year and I hope you do too!
Toisan-style Noodles
Fun See is a really delicious, yet simple Toisan-style stir-fried noodle dish made with KA-ME Bean Threads (aka mung bean or cellophane noodles), dried shrimp, pork, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and a generous amount of aromatics like garlic and green onions! My grandparents are from Toisan so a lot of the Chinese dishes I grew up on rooted there. This dish is really quick to make and also super adaptable. If you don’t eat pork, swap it out for ground chicken, ground beef, or omit it completely. I think what really anchors the dish is the dried shrimp, which gives it a natural brininess that pairs so well with the oyster sauce. If you also have dried scallops that would be an excellent addition too! Both dried shrimp and scallops are easily found at your local asian market, but if you can’t find either then stick with your choice of ground protein for flavor.
This dish is really similar to what’s called Ants Climbing Up a Tree, which is a Northern Chinese version made with chili oil and it’s a little saucier. Also super tasty!
How do you cook Bean Thread Noodles?
The most magical thing about bean thread noodles is that you don’t really need to cook them! They are the real “instant noodle” because all you need to do is soak them in hot water. No need to actively boil. After a hot soak for a few minutes they should be translucent, tender, with a perfect springy texture! I legit love the KA-ME Bean Threads, they have a wonderful texture and I appreciate that you can find their products at major retailers! I realize that not everyone has the luxury of living near an Asian market to grab good quality noodles and sauces, but thankfully we have KA-ME to help deliver on all those classic flavors.
Stay tuned for more LNY recipes next week!
Fun See (Toisan Style Stir-fried Bean Thread Noodles)
Serves 2 to 3 (easily doubled)
materials:
4oz Bean Thread Noodles
1/4 cup dried small shrimp
2 tbsp olive oil or a neutral-flavored oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lb ground pork
2 tbsp KA-ME Oyster Sauce
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp KA-ME 100% Pure Sesame Oil
4 stalks green onion, whites and greens, chopped
1 tbsp sesame seeds
steps:
Soak the noodles in hot water until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain the water and set noodles aside. Avoid over-soaking, which will cause the noodles to break in the stir-fry.
Soak the dried shrimp in hot water until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the water and set the shrimp aside. If you have larger dried shrimp, give them a rough chop into smaller pieces.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, stir, and continue to cook until fragrant and just starting to brown slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the ground pork, breaking up with the edge of a spatula or wooden spoon. Continue to cook, stirring occasional, until almost fully cooked and browned, 6 to 7 minutes.
Add the shrimp and season with oyster sauce, white pepper, salt, sugar, and sesame oil and stir to incorporate. Add the noodles, green onions, and sesame seeds. Toss to fully coat the noodles. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking before serving.