Singapore chow mein, a takeaway favourite rocking chicken & prawns with veggies, rice vermicelli noodles in a soy sauce & curry combination!
The success of this dish is all in the preparation; lots of chopping and mixing happen before you move to the stovetop, but then the dish cooks in just 15 minutes.
Fakeaway Curried Singapore Noodles
I have to confess that I'd never heard of Singapore chow mein noodles until relatively recently.
My years in the Hungarian wilderness buffeted me from the latest and greatest favourites from UK-based Chinese takeaway menus.
I first came across it when Jack Grealish (a footballer) mentioned it in an interview and curiously googled what it was.
Well, let's face it, I am not a stranger to fakeaway dishes on my site, I have everything from sweet and sour pork balls to chicken balti and beef chow mein to lamb pasanda.
So of course, a Chinese takeaway dish that fuses Indian curry flavours was gonna get a run out, and this recipe has been a major crush of mine in recent months.
Every local takeaway that has it on the menu has been hit hard, and I've been cooking up a storm, playing with ideas.
Curiously, it is not a dish from Singapore, but a popular Hong Kong creation, apparently, and it also goes by the names Singapore chow fun and Singapore mei fun.
It's a glorious mix of rice vermicelli noodles, veggies, eggs, and some protein (I use prawns and chicken) in a simple chow mein sauce and then curry powder. If you have any leftover noodles, do check out my Filipino pancit bihon recipe!
It sounds odd, but it tastes heavenly, and this recipe is already a firm favourite in our house!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use egg noodles?
Yes, of course, it is your dinner! However, do give rice vermicelli noodles a try at least once. I am not a huge fan of them, but I definitely prefer them in this recipe.
What curry powder should I use?
Despite cooking a boatload of Indian-inspired food, I don't use a lot of curry powder in my cooking. As a result, I tend to look for curry powder in the smallest packet possible.
I tend to opt for a fairly hot Madras-style curry powder, and it works wonderfully in this dish. But if you are sensitive to chilli, then go for something milder, but do not omit the curry powder because I think it is essential in this recipe.
Can I use different vegetables?
Yes, use whatever you have at home or want to add. I've used everything from cauliflower to pak choi and leftover cabbage to bean sprouts.
Can I use different types of protein?
Yes, you can even use store-bought pre-cooked Chinese-style pork, chicken or even tofu.
Do I have to use MSG?
No, but please do, it really does add an extra dimension to this recipe.
What is Chinkiang vinegar?
Chinkiang is a "black" rice Chinese vinegar, and I love the stuff. It appears in a significant majority of my Chinese takeaway-style dishes; it has a mellower but more complex flavour profile than regular rice vinegar.
Serving Suggestions
The aforementioned Mr Grealish likes his Singapore chow mein noodles with egg fried rice... and salt and pepper chips... and curry sauce!
To be fair, the chap is a professional athlete and probably burns a great deal more calories than me, but let's face it, I'd explode.
As far as I am concerned, this is a solid and generous one-bowl meal. It has everything, noodles, eggs, prawns, chicken and as many veggies as you want to throw at it.
Personally speaking, if I were to add anything to this meal, it would be some snacks or starters to start.
I wouldn't go too big, but some nice prawn toast, prawn crackers or some crispy egg rolls would work wonderfully.
Alternatively, some Chinese takeaway-style soup, like my hot and sour soup or even my chicken and sweetcorn soup, would be fab.
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Hob/Stovetop.
- Wok.
- Kettle to boil the water to soak the noodles.
- Large bowl to soak the noodles.
- Prep and mixing bowls. Use whatever you have to hand for this, but be sure to prepare before you start cooking!
- Baking tray or large plate.
- Sieve or colander if you need to defrost the peas and prawns.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen knife.
- A combination of weighing scales, measuring cups and spoons.
- Stirring and serving spoons or tongs.
Singapore Chow Mein Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
- 90-100 g Dried Rice Vermicelli Noodles 3-3½oz
- 225 g Chicken Thigh Meat 8oz
- 225 g Shelled Raw Prawns 8oz
- 1 Large Onion 200g
- 1 Small Bell Pepper
- 1 Small Carrot 75g
- 75 g Green Beans ¾ Cup
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 35 g Thumb Sized Piece Ginger
- 100 g Sliced Water Chestnuts ½ Cup
- 75 g Garden Peas ½-⅔ Cup
- 1 tablespoon Curry Powder
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon MSG
- ⅛ teaspoon White Pepper
- 3 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinkiang Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing Wine
- 1 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 tablespoon Cooking Oil
Instructions
- Place the rice vermicelli noodles in a bowl and pour over enough boiling water to cover them, then let them soak for 2-3 minutes. Drain the noodles, run them under cold water until cooled, and drain thoroughly. Then transfer them to a baking tray or large plate and spread them out to dry a little while preparing the remaining ingredients.
- If your prawns are frozen, defrost them by running them under cold water for 3-4 minutes.
- Cut the chicken thighs into 5-6mm (¼") strips across the thigh.
- Top and tail the onion, then peel it and cut it into 8 wedges.
- Cut the pepper into 5-6mm thick (¼") strips.
- Cut the green beans into 5cm (2") pieces.
- Cut the carrot into batons as finely as you can.
- Peel the garlic cloves and slice them as finely as you can.
- Peel the ginger, then cut it into batons as thinly as you can.
- Mix together the curry powder, white pepper, MSG and sugar, then set aside.
- Mix together the soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, Chinkiang vinegar and sesame oil and set aside.
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat lightly.
- Heat a wok over a high heat and add half of the cooking oil, then add the eggs and cook to form an omelette and then break it up and set it aside.
- Return the wok to the heat and add the remaining cooking oil, throw in the chicken and stir fry for 2-3 minutes or until very nearly cooked. Then remove and place on kitchen paper, making sure that you keep as much oil in the pan as possible.
- Return the wok to the heat and add the onions and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
- Throw in the garlic, ginger, water chestnuts, carrots and peppers and stir fry for 1 minute.
- Add the prawns, green beans and peas and stir fry for 90 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the pan and sprinkle over the curry powder mix and toss everything together to coat.
- Add the noodles and eggs, then toss everything together.
- Push the ingredients to the side of the pan and pour in the sauce. When it begins to furiously boil, mix everything together and serve immediately.
Miffed in Atlanta
Monday 18th of December 2023
With all due respect, the name of this dish and the list of ingredients makes me cringe. There is no such dish in Singapore and we do not use curry powder in chow mein. Also using vermicelli makes it chow mei fun not chow mein.I know you mentioned that it was invented in Hong Kong but please... name it something else...Curry Vermicelli. It is definitely NOT Singapore Chow Mein. Chow mein is noodles not vermicelli. Cultural appropriation?
Brian Jones
Monday 18th of December 2023
Those that use the phrase "all due respect" never mean any respect whatsoever and as for feeling miffed and cringing... that's very much a you problem and not a me problem!
If you were trying to educate me then I could see that you could have a point, but I stress that this dish has nothing to do with Singapore, that it was created in Hong Kong and that my version is very much inspired by British Chinese takeaway joints. You seem to be demanding that I cease to use a name that has become common parlance, I do hope that you are consistent and have written to the owners of all the other websites that feature this terminology and wish you luck writing to all of the websites that use phrases such as American Goulash, American Chop Suey, French Fries, Hawaiian Pizza, California Rolls, Dutch Rolls and Baked Alaska before embarking on the litany of "faux pas" involved with "Indian" food as it has traversed the world and diversified from the cuisine of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Stop with he negative waves, this recipe comes from a place of love (as do all of my recipes) and stresses that it is not identifying as or is remotely trying to be a representation of the food of Singapore.