Chinese noodles are generally made from either wheat flour, rice flour, or mung bean starch, with wheat noodles being more commonly produced and consumed with the ancient wooden noodles mold technology in northern China and rice noodles being more typical of southern China.
This largely depends on the type of noodle and how it's prepared. Some types of Asian noodles, such as soba and udon noodles made from whole grains, can provide a good source of fibre and nutrients. However, other types of noodles, like ramen and rice noodles, may be less nutritious and higher in carbohydrates.
Some are made from wheat, while others are made from rice, mung beans, or potatoes. Chinese noodles come in a dizzying number of varieties, sizes, and shapes. Thin, thick, narrow, and wide — the options are endless.
When it comes to what noodles are made of, there are three main types; wheat, rice and glass.
“Chinese noodles were made with soft wheat as China only had soft wheat back then: they couldn't have created dried pasta, [which usually requires hard or coarse wheat to make],” says Santich. “So Chinese noodles didn't evolve into what is now known as Mediterranean pasta.
Pasta and rice noodles are just about tied when it comes to calories, fat and fiber, as well as on the carb front (if you're on a low-carb diet like keto, stick to zoodles). Regular pasta has about 2 grams of sugar per serving while rice noodles are virtually sugar-free. Both are also free of cholesterol.
Differences in Ingredients
Flour – smooth, soft, and a lighter shade, noodles may be crafted using a finer kind of flour or a variety of different flours. Pasta on the other hand uses a heavier denser kind of flour to give it that weight.
Noodles is basically a type of food that is made from dough, while chow-mein is a dish made with noodles. Actually, chow mein is coined from two words 'chow' which means fried, and 'mein' refers to noodles. So the moral of the story is all chow mein are noodles, but all noodles are not chow mein.
Lo mein noodles are made of wheat flour, water, and egg. Rice noodles are made with rice flour and water. If you're looking for a slippery noodle to absorb the flavor of your sauce or broth, then rice noodles are the right choice for you.
Chow mein is a stir-fry noodle dish that is made in many different variations. Traditional chow mein is made with fried noodles but often chow mein is prepared with boiled lo mine, chow mein, or yaki-soba noodles. Then it is added to a vegetable stir fry with chicken or beef and a chow mein sauce.
Though noodles are part of everyday life in Chinese culture, they also hold a lot of symbolism when eaten during significant events. In China, noodles are frequently eaten during the start of the Lunar New Year and on birthdays. In fact, they symbolize longevity and good health for the year ahead.
Both lo mein and chow mein are made with Chinese egg noodles—wheat flour noodles with egg added. Fresh egg noodles (preferably about 1/4-inch thick) are best for lo mein, while either fresh or dried can be used to make chow mein. Either way, the noodles need to be softened in boiling water before cooking.
Ho Fun Noodles are flat white noodles which normally turn brown from soy sauce when cooking. There are ho fun noodles which vary in the width, so you can get really wide flat noodles as well as thinner ones. Can be fried as well as boiled as a noodle soup.
For lower calorie and carbohydrate content, rice comes out top. But if protein and fibre is your aim, pasta wins over rice. That said, both can play a part in a healthy diet - and as the nutritional differences are quite small, it often comes down to which you would prefer.
So what's the healthier order, fried rice or lo mein? Short answer: lo mein. Yes, both dishes usually come slathered in sauce, but the rice offers the unfortunate double-whammy of being fried in oil first.
The same amount of calories can be found in 50 grams of noodles (dry, uncooked). So for the same amount (eg: 100 grams) noodles will contribute higher calories. But when you ask which one is healthier, then the noodle or rice that you usually consume is more or less the same.
If you are unable to find noodles that are specifically labeled as chow mein noodles or lo mein noodles, you can use linguine noodles, regular Italian spaghetti noodles, or another type of Asian noodle as a similar substitute.
Noodles: Some noodles may be made from 100% rice flour but some may also have wheat flour added, and are often prepared in soy sauce. Only select noodles made with 100% buckwheat flour if you can ensure they are labeled gluten-free. Batter: Chicken, shrimp, and pork are frequently prepared in a wheat-based batter.
Look for Chinese egg noodles (lo mein-style noodles). Spaghetti, Linguine, or Fettuccine. YES, you can make use spaghetti to make a noodle stir fry. This is what we use 95% of the time.
Two types of Chinese noodles are called cumian. One is Shanghai style, thick in diameter, used in Shanghai fried noodles. The other type is Hong Kong style, flat and wide, sometimes yellow-alkaline.
Although Hong Kong noodles are sometimes called Hong Kong chow mein, the former refers to pan-fried noodles which are partially cooked in boiling water so that they are ready for stir-frying. In contrast, chow mein is a Cantonese term that directly translates into fried (chow) noodles (mein).
Vermicelli. While “vermicelli” is a term used to describe thin noodles across various global cuisines, rice vermicelli specifically (also called rice sticks) is a favorite in East and Southeast Asian cooking. The noodles are pale white, nearly translucent, and are most commonly sold dried in folded, crunchy bunches.
Mein (or mian) is simply the Chinese word for 'noodles' (pronounced 'me-an'). Both lo mein and chow mein are made from the same type of Chinese noodle. This noodle is made from wheat flour and eggs, similar to Italian pasta. What is this?
Ramen is the Japanese word for Chinese-style pulled wheat noodles like those mentioned earlier. However, it's worth distinguishing them as separate category due to their ubiquitous presence in supermarkets, particularly the instant variety.