Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (2024)

These crispy rice noodles are so easy to make. With just a pan and hot oil, these noodles puff up and make the perfect topping, side or snack.

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Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (1)

These Thai puffed, crispy thin rice noodles may also be called rice vermicelli are so fragile but so good! You will often find them served as a side dish at an Asian restaurant or topped on salads or any other meals or appetizers. These crispy rice noodles are light, puffy and with just a pinch of salt, they can even be served as a snack on it’s own.

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To make these puffed and crispy rice noodles, an exact recipe is not necessary. All you need is rice noodles and oil for frying and you can make as much or as little as you want or need.

Where can i buy rice noodles?

Rice noodles can be found in most Asian grocery stores as well as other grocery stores that may have an Asian section. Next time you go grocery shopping, look for them in your store, if you cannot find them locally, you can also order them online.

What you need to make crispy rice noodles:

1/2 package (4oz) Thai Rice Noodles

2/3 cup of Oil (For frying) I recommend using a high smoke point oil

Pinch of fine Sea Salt

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Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (2)

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How to make crispy rice noodles:

  1. Break or cut the rice noodles to your desired size. Longer noodle pieces look better. (Scissors may be handy)
  2. Heat a small frying pan or a wok and add the oil. (The bigger the pan, the more oil you will have to use). Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it is very hot.
  3. Taking a small amount each time, (about a handful) deep fry the noodles for 2-5 seconds or until the noodles are puffed and crispy, turning them over once. Repeat with the remaining noodles. Do not brown.

Extra Tips:

When deep frying the thin rice noodles, the most important thing is to have the right oil temperature. If the oil is too hot, the noodles will burn and brown, if the temperature is too low, the noodles will not puff up.

Make sure all the thin rice noodles are submerged in hot oil. Not submerged parts of the noodles will not puff up.

Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (3)

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A great way to check if your oil is ready for frying, take a longer noodle piece and dip the end piece, if it puffs up within seconds, it is ready. If the noodle does not puff up within seconds, wait a little longer for the oil to heat up and try again.

Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (4)

Set your puffed noodles to drain on a paper towel and continue frying the rest of your rice noodles.

The actual cooking process goes very quickly so be sure to have a utensil ready and a prepared dish lined with a paper towel.

Once you’re finished, sprinkle crispy rice noodles with a pinch of salt on top if desired or garnish with green onions.

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Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (5)

This noodle dish can be served on it’s own as a side or used as a topping for lettuce wraps, salads, sushi rolls or any other asian dishes they may go with. I love these with my bang bang shrimp lettuce wraps.

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Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (6)

Other Noodle recipes you might love:

One Pan Pasta Beef Bolognese

One pan Shrimp Yakisoba

Homemade Sarku Chicken Teriyaki

Sweet n’ Sour Beef Pasta

Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (7)

5 from 3 votes

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Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (Quick & Easy)

To make these puffed rice noodles, an exact recipe is not necessary. All you need is rice noodles and oil for frying and you can make as much or as little as you want or need.

Author Alena’s Homecooking

Ingredients

  • 1/2Package (4oz)Thai Rice Noodles
  • 2/3CupOil(For Frying)
  • Pinch of Salt(Optional)

Instructions

  1. Instructions:

    1.Break or cut the rice noodles to your desired size. (Scissors may be handy)

    2.Heat a small frying pan or a wok and add the oil. (The bigger the pan, the more oil you will need to use). Heat the oil over medium heat until it is very hot.

    3.Taking a small amount each time, (about a handful) deep fry the noodles for 2-5 seconds or until the noodles are puffed and crispy, turning them over once. Do not brown.

    To check if your oil is ready for frying, take a longer noodle piece and dip the end piece, if it puffs up within seconds, it is ready. If the noodle does not puff up within seconds, wait a little longer for the oil to heat up and try again.

    4.Set your puffed noodles to drain on a paper towel and continue frying the rest of your noodles.

    The actual cooking process goes very quickly so be sure to have a utensil ready and a prepared dish lined with a paper towel.

    5.Once you’re finished, sprinkle a pinch of salt on top if desired.

    Use the crispy noodles as a topping for lettuce wraps, salads or any other dishes they may go with.

    Enjoy!

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11 Comments

  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (18)

    Sophia

    If you break the noodles into sections right over the pan, it’s much easier and much neater than cutting them with a scissors. They flew all over when I tried that! Thanks for the great recipe!

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  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (19)

    Karen McCuiston

    This recipe made my day! I have always asked for the puffy noodles when I go out to eat and tried to find them in the Asian food store. I finally asked a worker what kind of noodles it is and she was able to tell me. Thanks for posting how to do it though. I always enjoy how the noodles soak up the juices in a Chinese dish.

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  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (20)

    Desara

    What type of oil? Can I just use boiled water with salt?

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    • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (21)

      alenashomecooking

      You can use any cooking oil for frying.
      As far as using boiling water, that is another method of cooking these noodles that is not what this post is about 🙂

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  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (22)

    Anonymous

    Thank you! I made these tonight and they turned out really well!

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  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (23)

    Mike Reed

    Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (24)
    Your website looks amazing I would love to collaborate with you. I have sent you my contacts via email, please reach out to me.

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  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (25)

    Samantha Jones

    Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (26)
    I’ve been wondering how restaurants make these I’m so glad I came across your website. Made these today and added to my salad. It was delicious

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  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (27)

    Dewett Wilson

    Can you make these ahead of time? How long will they hold up after frying?

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    • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (28)

      alenashomecooking

      Yes you can make them in advance and store in an airtight container overnight (not refrigerated) how long they’ll stay crispy really depends on the humidity in your home

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  • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (29)

    Lee

    Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (30)
    Thank you for sharing such an easy recipe

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    • Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (31)

      alenashomecooking

      It is my pleasure

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Thai Crispy Rice Noodles Recipe (quick & easy) (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep rice noodles crispy? ›

The key to crispy noodles is having the oil hot enough so they expand immediately—so make sure to test with a noodle or two first.

What is the secret to cooking rice noodles? ›

Unlike wheat pasta, you don't need to boil rice noodles; the warm water is enough to cook them through. Once they are soft, you can drain them and add them to your stir-fry, soup, or another dish. Be sure to cook them thoroughly before eating, as uncooked rice noodles can be a bit chewy.

How do you cook rice noodles for pad thai? ›

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. 1 BRING large pot of water to boil. Add rice noodles; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until noodles are tender but firm. ...
  2. 2 HEAT oil in large skillet or wok on medium-high heat. Add garlic; stir fry 30 seconds or until fragrant. ...
  3. 3 STIR in rice noodles and tamarind mixture; stir fry 1 minute or until heated through.

How do you keep crispy rice from falling apart? ›

Tips and Tricks. Be sure to freeze your rice until it's firm enough to cut through easily. This not only helps with the cutting process but also helps when frying. If it's not cold enough, the rice blocks fall apart when you're frying them.

Do you have to soak rice noodles before cooking? ›

Do I need to soak my rice noodles before stir frying? You will need to soften dried noodles before stir frying by soaking them in boiling water. Fresh rice noodles, available at Asian grocery stores, do not need to be soaked before adding to your stir fry, as they will cook during frying.

What happens if you don't soak rice noodles? ›

I don't have to soak rice noodles before cooking, but I find that it helps them cook more evenly. If I'm in a hurry, I'll just give them a quick rinse in hot water before cooking. I don't have to soak rice noodles before cooking, but I find that it helps them cook more evenly.

How to properly make rice noodles? ›

Flat Rice Noodles (Pad Thai Noodles)
  1. Prepare a bowl filled with room temperature water. Add the pad thai noodles to the bowl. Soak for 10 minutes. ...
  2. Strain the noodles and run your fingers through them to prevent sticking. You can use a neutral oil like rice bran oil to coat the noodles if you won't use them right away.
Feb 2, 2024

How long to soak rice noodles for pad thai? ›

Directions. Soak the dried rice noodles in cool or lukewarm water for 30 minutes, or until they're limp but still firm to the touch; later cooking in the wok will soften them more. Drain the noodles thoroughly in a colander and set aside while preparing the other ingredients.

What's the difference between rice noodles and Pad Thai noodles? ›

Compared to rice noodles, vermicelli, and rice stick noodles, Pad Thai noodles are broader and thicker, giving them a chewier texture. Pad Thai noodles are used explicitly in the popular Thai dish called Pad Thai, known for its unique blend of flavors and textures.

Are Pad Thai and rice noodles the same? ›

Pad thai is made with soaked dried rice noodles, which are stir-fried with eggs and chopped firm tofu , and is flavored with tamarind pulp, fish sauce , dried shrimp , garlic or shallots , red chili pepper and palm sugar and served with lime wedges and often chopped roasted peanuts.

How long does it take to cook rice noodles? ›

Put the soaked rice noodles in and let them stew uncovered. Check out my pot of water—it's boiling but calm and contained—like vegans at the supermarket meat section. For a 10mm thick noodle, it takes about 5 minutes on the stove to be done. For a thin 3mm noodle, it will probably only take 2-3 minutes.

Why did my rice noodles turn to mush? ›

Rice noodles need to boiled only for a few minutes, then immediately turned out, strained and rinsed under cold water. This stops the cooking process and also rinses off the excess starch. “Turning to mush" is a matter of over-cooking and not rinsing right away. For stir frying, adding some oil prior to will also help.

Do rice noodles go crispy? ›

For the best results, rice vermicelli should be deep-fried and dried to create crispy noodles. In the past, when fresh noodles were commonly used, recipes for crispy rice vermicelli usually began by cooking the noodles, then drying them before frying; commercial dried noodles can be fried without any prior cooking.

How do you keep stir-fry noodles from getting soggy? ›

Be careful not too overcook the noodles — it's better to slightly undercook than over cook. Drain the noodles: Rinse the noodles with cold water. Drain the noodles and shake the strainer a few times to get the noodles as dry as possible.

How do you store rice noodles after cooking? ›

Keep leftover rice noodles in an airtight container in the fridge. Tossing the rice noodles in oil will prevent them clumping together during storage. Reheat them in the microwave, in some hot water, or in a skillet.

How do you keep spaghetti noodles from getting soggy? ›

Water at an adequate boil will cook pasta faster, without suffering a significant temperature drop when the noodles are added, and this will keep your pasta from getting mushy.

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