Flavor description
The most popular of all Asian noodles, rice sticks (as they are labeled) are made from rice flour and water. Although any type of rice-flour noodle may be called rice sticks, we use this term for flat rice noodles, which are sold mainly in three forms. Thin flat rice noodles are used mainly in soups and in some stir-fried dishes. Medium-thick rice sticks (called pho in Vietnamese) are all-purpose and may be used in soups, stir-fries, and salads (a slightly wider Thai version is called jantaboon). The widest rice sticks (sha he fen in Chinese) are found in meat, seafood, and vegetable stir-fries.
How to find
Look for rice sticks in a well-stocked supermarket; or buy in Asian markets or online at sites such as www.ethnicgrocer.com. Substitutes
Vermicelli can be substituted for rice sticks in most recipes.
Related Articles
Noodling Around: Native to Asia, rice noodles translate well into many culinary uses. See article.
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Rice Noodles with Shrimp and Basil-Mint Pesto
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