Easy Asian Noodles
Whether they're served cold, pan-fried until crunchy, or simmered in soup, noodles are a major part of Asia's cuisine. Each country has its own signature dish, from China's Pork Lo Mein to Thailand's Pad Thai to Japan's Yaki-Soba, and the noodles themselves might be made from wheat, rice, or even mung beans.  All these dishes have one thing in common, though: They're uniformly delicious. And now, thanks to noted Asian cooking expert Helen Chen, they're a snap to prepare at home.Easy Asian Noodles includes more than 60 recipes for noodle dishes, all of which are simple enough for even a fledgling Asian cook. If you can make spaghetti, you can make these recipes. Many of them take less than half an hour from pan to plate—it's the perfect way to add variety to hurried weeknight dinners. And the majority use ingredients you'll find in any supermarket—the most exotic ingredient in Chen's Yaki-Soba is Worcestershire sauce!Chen takes recipes from every corner of the continent and makes them accessible to Western home cooks. After a thorough discussion of Asian noodles in general—glossaries of noodles and other Asian ingredients, the best ways to cook and serve noodles, and the right equipment for the job (most of which you probably already own)—Chen moves on to the recipes, an irresistible selection of simple, foolproof dishes organized into three categories:Stir-Fried, Pan-Fried, and Sauced Noodles: From China there's Crispy Noodle Cake with Shredded Chicken and Vegetables, Scallion and Ginger Soft Noodles, or Wide Rice Noodles with Beef in Black Bean Sauce; Singapore offers curry-infused Rice Sticks; Thailand brings Pad Thai, of course, but also Crazy Noodles, My Drunken Noodles, and Spicy Basil Beef Noodles.Soup Noodles: Take comfort in a steaming bowl of Cantonese Roast Duck Soup Noodles or Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup. Learn the simplest possible method to make your own wontons—pork, turkey, or shrimp. Or for a spicy treat, try Peking Hot-and-Sour Noodle Soup, Japanese Curry Udon, or Vietnamese Quick Chicken Ph?.Cold Noodles and Noodle Salads: Refreshing on a hot day or when you just don't feel like heating up the kitchen—choices include Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, Japanese Summer Noodle Salad, Iced Somen Noodles, Thai Beef Salad with Deep-Fried Rice Sticks, Vietnamese Poached Shrimp in Herbed Rice Noodle Salad, and ten more.Filled with straightforward recipes, gorgeous photographs, and expert advice, this is the perfect cookbook for anyone who loves noodles.