What is Chow Fun? A Guide to This Delicious Chinese Noodle Dish!
– Chow fun is a popular Cantonese dish consisting of chewy rice noodles stir-fried with protein, vegetables, and bean sprouts.
– The dish originated in Shahe, a subdistrict of Guangzhou in the South of China.
– There are two styles of chow fun: wet and dry. Dry chow fun has less sauce and seasoning, while wet chow fun has a gravy-like sauce.
– Common ingredients in chow fun include wide rice noodles, protein (such as beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, eggs, or tofu), and vegetables (such as bean sprouts, bok choy, onions, mushrooms, etc.).
– Chow fun is a saucy noodle dish that typically includes rice noodles, meat or vegetables, and a flavorful sauce.
– The sauce for chow fun is usually made with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, black pepper, and may also have sugar and starch added for sweetness and thickness.
– The dish has a balance of sweet, savory, and umami flavors, with an undertone of rice flavor from the noodles.
– To make chow fun, a large wok is needed, and the cooking steps involve soaking the noodles, pan-frying the protein, adding vegetables and sauce, and briefly frying the noodles.
– There are variations of chow fun recipes that include different proteins and vegetables.
– Both chow fun and chow mein are Chinese noodle dishes that consist of stir-fried noodles with protein and vegetables in a sweet and savory sauce.
– The main differences between chow fun and chow mein are the type of noodles used, the amount of sauce, the texture of the noodles, and their regional origins.
– In terms of health, chow fun is considered healthier than chow mein because it is typically lower in calories and sodium. However, both dishes can be made healthier by reducing oil and high-sodium sauce ingredients and adding lots of fresh vegetables and lean protein.