Rice noodles are a staple of several Asian cuisines, including Chinese and Vietnamese recipes. They’re thin and light noodles perfect substitute for rice in an Asian-inspired meal.
I love them for their delicacy. Whether floating in a soup or used as a bed for a saucy protein, rice vermicelli noodles make any meal just little bits more special.
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What Are Rice Noodles Good With?
Rice noodles are a light and delicious basis for any meal. They absorb flavor like a sponge, so they’re great with saucy meals like pad see ew and in light noodle soup recipes or broths.
Top them with aromatic vegetables or well-charred protein to create a filling meal for dinner tonight.
How Do You Make Rice Noodles Taste Better?
Rice noodles are inherently a little bland because they’re made of pure rice. There are a couple of ways to make them more flavorful.
If you’re making a soup, cooking the noodles in the broth imbues them with its flavor. If you’re making a dry dish, boil the rice sticks in seasoned hot water and coat gently with aroma oil.
How to Cook Rice Noodles?
Rice noodles are super quick and easy to cook. They’re thin and light, so they cook for mere minutes in boiling water. If you’re making a soup, save time by boiling the noodles in the broth.
The key to cooking these without breaking them is to soften them in cold water before cooking gently. You achieve long and silky strands without crushing them into the pot!
Vegan Rice Noodle Recipes
Rice noodles are a great ingredient to incorporate into vegan meals. They’re the ideal way to bulk some vegetables into a complete meal while offering an excellent base for a flavorful sauce.
1. Sesame Thai Rice Noodles
Source: heartbeetkitchen.com
This is a recipe with wide rice noodles that has strong notes of sesame oil, chili, and ginger.
This is also a great recipe for meal prepping, as the flat rice noodles and vegetables keep well for a while.
2. Ramen with Rice Noodles, Tofu, and Veggies
Source: happykitchen.rocks
This is a deeply-satisfying recipe with a tasty dark miso broth, shiitake mushrooms, and fresh rice noodles. Top this with some delicious charred vegetables and wilted Asian greens.
If you’re not vegan, add half a marinated boiled egg or scrambled egg for a delicious drop of rich flavor.
3. Spicy Veg Noodles
Source: shahzadidevje.com
This twenty-minute noodle dish with red bell peppers, and dark soy sauce is an ideal example of a quick and easy dish suitable for lunch or dinner.
It’s also great for using up the last vegetables in the fridge at the end of the week.
4. Vegan Pho
Source: happykitchen.rocks
Pho is a time-honored Vietnamese soup with a signature fragrant flavor.
Traditional pho toppings include mushrooms, lime, mint, and other aromatic elements like ginger. While pho is usually made with a bone broth base, this vegan version uses vegetable stock.
5. Peanut Noodle Salad
Source: veganhuggs.com
This peanut noodle salad combines earthy peanut sauce and edamame with an assortment of fresh ingredients.
This is cheap and easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients like peanut butter, rice stick noodles, and sesame seeds and minimal effort.
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6. Spicy Garlic Noodles
Source: pipercooks.com
Everyone needs a recipe they reach for when they’re craving something quick, easy, and tasty.
Thanks to how quickly the noodles cook, you only need ten minutes to bring this together. The sauce is super simple but packed with flavor. Crank up the spice or tone it down depending on your needs.
7. Thai Oyster Mushroom Noodle Stir Fry
Source: mypureplants.com
Oyster mushrooms are a super flavorful variety of mushrooms that’s great for adding a little ‘meatiness’ to a meal. This is a protein-filled dish perfect for your next meal prepping rotation.
Scatter whatever vegetables are handy into this mix to bulk it up as much as you like.
8. Thai Noodle Salad
Source: herwholesomekitchen.com
Start with an array of ingredients, and twenty minutes later, you’ll have a delicious noodle salad ready for your summer gathering.
Serve it with a couple of extra sauce options, some lime, and leftover chili so guests can customize their salads.
9. Pistachio Zucchini and Mint Rice Noodles
Source: throughthefibrofog.com
The mint, pistachio, and zucchini all pair to create an earthy vegan dish packed with flavor and nutrients.
Salt your zucchini beforehand and let them sit to draw out the moisture. Dry off with a paper towel and fry off for an excellent cook.
Vegetarian Rice Noodle Recipes
Vegetarian meals are a big part of many Asian regional cuisines. That means we have many delicious vegetarian rice noodle recipes to choose from! Let’s dive into just a few of them.
10. Vietnamese Noodle Salad
Source: drivemehungry.com
The rice noodles help this salad feel nice and light, so it’s excellent as a lunch or an appetizer. You can whip up some protein separately if you’re also serving meat-eaters, as it will go beautifully.
11. Roasted Veggies and Rice Noodles with Poached Egg
Source: sarahscucinabella.com
This roasted vegetable meal is a luscious winter warmer that’s great for family Sunday dinner.
This is a self-saucing meal thanks to the deliciously runny poached egg that tops it. This is an excellent meal for clearing out your root vegetable drawer; anything goes with the noodle egg combo.
12. Ginger Garlic Bok Choy Soup
Source: goodfoodbaddie.com
This luxuriously fragrant bok choy soup is out of this world. The broth comes together in just twenty minutes, but the flavor tastes like you’ve been simmering it for hours.
Love this recipe? You might like this easy celery and carrot soup.
13. Instant Pot Vegetarian Pho
Source: karalydon.com
Here’s another take on Vietnamese pho, and this one only takes an hour!
This version also features tofu, packed with protein and super filling.
Serve the pho with extra green chilies, mint, lime, and bean sprouts. A good pho isn’t complete without a bowlful of toppings!
14. Spring Vegetable Green Curry
Source: theroastedroot.net
The only thing better than a Thai green curry comes with built-in noodles.
Bursting with greenery, this quick and easy recipe highlights everything great about Thai food. The noodles will also help get your kids on board so they can eat their vegetables!
Popular Rice Noodle Recipes
The best place to look for good food is where everyone else is flocking. I always say, “if a restaurant is empty, you probably don’t want to be eating there.”
So, let’s dive into some of the most popular rice noodle recipes as decided by the biggest forum in the world: the Internet. Test them out for yourself to discover which ones are your favorites!
15. Thai Meatball Soup with Rice Noodles
Source: slowthecookdown.com
This recipe uses seasoned turkey meat, which is perfect for absorbing the flavors from the thick broth.
The broth itself is coconut-based, which is the perfect canvas for a variety of fragrant herbs and spices.
Check out more ground turkey recipes for next dinner!
16. Taiwanese Pumpkin Rice Noodles
Source: carolinescooking.com
Pumpkin is a great roast vegetable in warm and cold months.
Not only is this bursting with the warm, comforting flavor of roast pumpkins, but it also boasts a variety of fall-inspired ingredients. Things like spiced pork, soy sauce, and onion make it incredible.
17. Thai Noodle Bowl
Source: joyousapron.com
This is a Thai noodle bowl perfect for your next meal prep rotation. It’s packed with protein thanks to the peanuts.
You can use any vegetables you like to create this noodle bowl. The key lies in the sauce, which ties all the elements together into a cohesive bowl of deliciousness.
18. Shrimp Noodle Stir Fry
Source: hauteandhealthyliving.com
If you’re a big fan of shrimp, this stir-fry is a quick and easy weeknight meal packed with nutritious vegetables. Plus, the shrimp absorbs flavor like a veritable sponge.
A twenty-minute effort yields beautifully-cooked shrimp in an assortment of saucy vegetables. It’s perfect.
19. Chicken Chow Fun
Source: curlyscooking.co.uk
This recipe is super cost-effective. Rice noodles cost almost nothing, and chicken thighs make the best protein for this recipe.
Top with a sprinkling of shredded lemongrass to add additional fragrance to each bite. Serve with a side of chili, soy sauce, and some wontons, and sit down with an empty stomach.
20. Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad
Source: delightfulplate.com
The key to this delicious meal is marinated beef.
The longer you let the beef sit in the aromatic concoction of fish sauce, garlic, and ginger, the better it will taste. The marinade also tenderizes the meat.
Need more inspiration? Check out these easy crockpot ground beef recipes!
21. Shrimp Pad Thai
Source: theviewfromgreatisland.com
The meal combines ginger, garlic, and lime to create a signature Thai aroma that perfectly pairs with a bed of rice noodles. Be generous with the toppings; it’s the key to a tasty pad Thai!
This dish is as delicious as it is visually impressive.
So, which of these dishes have struck your fancy? Stock up on rice noodles – they’re incredibly cheap – and bolster your arsenal of dishes with some of these delicious Asian-inspired meals.