We all know the love and craze for noodles in India. From homemade maggi to street-style noodles, these strings of love have become comfort food in the country over time. Apart from being soul-satisfying, noodles are also very easy to prepare. Though noodles are staple in many cuisines such as Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese, Indians are mostly attached to Chinese flavours. Recently, Korean noodles have also gained popularity in the country.
But the most interesting part is, we have improvised the noodles according to our taste and flavours. The best example is street-style chow mein that gives a burst of flavour with each bite. The use desi veggies, herbs and spices have made it an integral part of Indian cuisine. Today, many varieties of noodles are available in the market such as veggie and atta noodles that are said to be comparatively healthier than the regular ones. Some popular noodles dishes in India are maggi, ramen, chilli garlic noodles, chow mein and hakka noodles.
But are you facing problem in cooking noodles perfectly at home, here are five useful tips that will give you best results:
Add Water According To The Package Instructions
Not all noodles are made with the same ingredients, therefore they cannot be cooked in the same way. Of course, you can improvise the recipe according to your preference, but it is important to read the instructions before cooking. Specially, how much water to add to the noodles. The amount of water basically depends on the type of noodles you are making. For example, wet chow mein needs less water as compared to dry chow mein.
Use A Wok For Stir Frying
You would have noticed on the street stalls that only a wok is used for stir-frying the noodles. This kitchen essential makes it easier to toss and flip the ingredients properly. If cooking on an electric stove, always prefer a flat-bottomed wok. Don’t overcrowd the wok, as this would break the noodles and also affect the flavour. Cooking in batches is a better option.
Be Careful With The Sauce
The base of your sauce should be packed with flavours, you can use ingredients like garlic, ginger, onion, and chilli to enhance the taste. Adding some texture to your noodle sauce can also make it interesting. Allow your sauce to simmer on low heat for a while to let the flavours meld together. This will help to deepen the flavour of your dish.
High Flame Is The Key
To get a perfect stir-fry, always cook on high heat. You might be a little scared that your noodles would burn, but this is not going to happen. Just keep a constant movement in the wok and avoid excess moisture. Stir-frying on high heat with constant motion will give you the perfect result.
How To Prevent Sticking While Boiling
- Always add noodles after the water reaches the state of boiling and don’t forget to stir from time to time.
- Make sure you are using a big utensil for boiling the noodles.
- Never keep the boiled noodles for too long, this will also cause them to stick together. But if there is an unavoidable situation, run the noodles under cold water.