Looking for an amazing noodle recipe for tonight? Here are 10 tried-and-tested recipes, from classic beef stir-fried noodles to Sichuan Dan Dan noodles.
Stir-fried noodles, noodle soups, cold noodles: there are as many ways to prepare them as there are Asian cuisines. China, Japan, Thailand, Korea: every country has its classics. What do they have in common? They’re quick, they’re delicious, and you can make them with whatever you have on hand.
Whether you’re a beginner or already a seasoned wok cook, this selection covers every style: from quick stir-fries to comforting soups, with some spicier recipes along the way.
1. Beef stir-fried noodles
The ultimate homemade Chinese noodle classic. Thinly sliced beef, soy sauce, crunchy vegetables, all stir-fried in a wok over high heat. The secret is a quick marinade for the beef and searing-hot cooking that gives it that signature wok hei flavor.
Ready in 20 minutes, perfect for a weeknight.
Nouilles sautées au bœuf meilleures qu’au resto
2. Thai-style stir-fried rice noodles
Wide rice noodles, stir-fried with dark soy sauce, garlic, an egg and vegetables. This is the street-food dish you’ll find everywhere in Thailand, from night markets to corner restaurants. The texture of rice noodles, both soft and slightly sticky, is a real change from wheat noodles.
If you like pad Thai, you’ll love this simpler, quicker version.
Nouilles de riz sautées à la thaïlandaise
3. Chow mein
Chow mein uses thin wheat noodles, stir-fried until slightly crispy in places. The seasoning is a blend of light soy sauce, sesame oil and a touch of sugar. Add whatever you like: chicken, shrimp, vegetables.
It’s the quintessential Cantonese dish, the one you order at Chinese restaurants all over the world. Except it’s even better homemade.
Chow mein (nouilles sautées chinoises)
4. Yakisoba
The Japanese version of stir-fried noodles. Thick noodles coated in a sweet and savory yakisoba sauce, with cabbage, carrots and pork (or shrimp). The result is sweeter and fruitier than Chinese noodles, thanks to the Worcestershire sauce in the mix.
Perfect for a quick lunch, or as a side dish with okonomiyaki.
Authentiques Yakisoba – Nouilles sautées Japonaises
5. Dan Dan noodles
A Sichuan classic that packs a punch. Thin noodles coated in a sauce with sesame, chili, Sichuan pepper and ground pork. The flavor profile is complex: spicy, numbing (the famous “ma la”), nutty and slightly tangy.
It’s the kind of dish that can seem intimidating, but comes together in 15 minutes once the ingredients are ready.
Authentiques nouilles Dan Dan
6. Chinese noodles with fried garlic
Minimalist and addictive. Wheat noodles, oil infused with golden garlic, soy sauce, and that’s it. The secret lies in the amount of garlic (don’t skimp) and slow cooking that makes it crispy and sweet without any bitterness.
Three ingredients, five minutes of prep, an outsized payoff. Ideal as a base to customize with an egg, tofu or vegetables.
Authentiques nouilles chinoises à l’ail frit (腌面)
7. Shrimp stir-fried noodles
Wok-seared shrimp with noodles, vegetables and a well-seasoned sauce. The trick to perfect shrimp: cook them separately, very quickly, over very high heat, then add them back at the end to keep them from turning rubbery.
A light, complete meal that everyone loves, kids included.
Nouilles Sautées aux Crevettes
8. Biang Biang noodles
Wide, thick, hand-pulled noodles from Xi’an in northwestern China. They’re served with hot chili oil poured over raw garlic, creating a sizzle and releasing all the aromas at once. Add soy sauce and black vinegar.
The texture is unique: thick, springy, almost chewy. If you’ve never tried them, they’re an experience unlike any other in the world of noodles.
Authentiques Nouilles Biang Biang
9. Noodles with peanut sauce (satay)
Cold (or warm) noodles coated in a creamy sauce made with peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil. Rich, nutty and comforting. Serve them cold in summer or warm the rest of the year.
The kind of recipe you can make ahead and enjoy just as much at the office as at home.
Nouilles sauce cacahuètes (saté)
10. Niku Udon
A Japanese udon noodle soup with thinly sliced beef, simmered in a broth of dashi, soy sauce and mirin. Udon noodles are thick and soft, and soak up the broth like a sponge. The beef practically melts on your tongue.
It’s the ultimate comfort food for cold days. Simple, deeply flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Niku Udon – Soupe de Nouilles au Boeuf
