Easy under 30-minute bihun goreng is the answer for those busy weeknights. Made with shrimp, eggs, cabbage, bean sprouts, and a mouthwatering umami stir-fry sauce this rich and savory these stir-fried vermicelli noodles will be your next favorite stir fried noodle recipe guaranteed!
Say hello to your new favorite easy stir fry. This rice noodle stir fry is great when you’re in a rush, but don’t want to sacrifice flavor.
I don’t know about you but stir-fried noodles are my love language, and I could absolutely eat this dish everyday. They’re that good. And if you’re constantly craving noodles like me, then be sure to check out my Vietnamese garlic noodles, yaki udon, pad see ew, and chicken lo mein!
What is Bihun Goreng?
Bihun goreng, also known as bee hoon goreng or mee hoon goreng, is a popular fried vermicelli noodle dish originating from Indonesia and is now popular across South East Asia. This bihun recipe is made with rice vermicelli noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, and cabbage and tossed with marinated shrimp and a deliciously thick, savory stir fry sauce.
You will only need a few items of kitchen equipment for this vermicelli noodle stir fry.
Mixing bowls: you will need mixing bowls to marinate the shrimp, mix the sauce and soak the rice noodles. I love using my glass nesting mixing bowl set because it is so useful for all of my cooking prep!
Wok or Large Skillet: you will need a wok or a large skillet to make this vermicelli noodle stir fry.
Wooden spoons: when it comes to any stir-fried rice noodle recipe, I like to use two wooden spoons to easily toss the ingredients together to stir-fry them evenly.
Ingredients
You can find all of the ingredients for this stir-fried rice noodle recipe at your local Asian grocery market or online.
Shrimp Marinade
Shrimp: I used shrimp as the main protein for this bihun recipe, but you can alternatively use different proteins I listed in the substitutions and additions section below.
Soy sauce:soy sauce adds a salty umami flavor to the shrimp marinade and the stir fry sauce.
Sesame Oil:sesame oil adds a touch of umami nutty flavor to the shrimp marinade.
Sugar:sugar marinates the shrimp as well as balances out the salty flavors in the stir-fry sauce.
Shrimp marinade ingredients
Stir Fry Sauce
Kecap Manis:kecap manis is Indonesia’s sweet and syrupy soy sauce that is more sweet and thick than regular soy sauce. You can find kecap manis online or at your local Asian grocery store.
Fish sauce: fish sauce adds a rich umami flavor to the stir fry noodle sauce.
White Pepper: a dash of white pepper season the noodles with a hint of spice.
Garlic and Shallots: minced garlic and chopped shallots are the main aromatics for this fried vermicelli noodles.
Bihun Goreng stir fry sauce ingredients
Stir Fry Mix Ins
Eggs: the eggs will be whisked and scrambled into the vermicelli noodle stir fry.
Bean Sprouts: Add a touch of crunch to the stir fry.
Green Onion: another aromatic for the fried vermicelli noodles.
Vermicelli Noodles: this wouldn’t be a stir-fried vermicelli noodle recipe without vermicelli rice noodles. Make sure you use thin vermicelli rice noodles and NOT glass noodles.
Napa Cabbage: make sure to wash and dry the napa cabbage before tossing it into the stir fry.
Stir fry mix ins
Substitutions and Additions
This is your stir-fried noodles recipe. That means you can customize it with whatever stir-fry ingredients that you please. I’ve listed some suggestions for how to personalize your vermicelli noodle stir fry below.
Protein: instead of shrimp, you can use chicken, beef, pork, or even tofu.
Vegetables: you can substitute different leafy green vegetables or add carrots, broccoli, bok choy, snap peas, bell peppers, purple cabbage, etc. for a full and well-balanced bihun recipe.
Sweet soy sauce: if you cannot find the Indonesian Kecap Manis, you can alternatively use sweet soy sauce instead. Sweet soy sauce is readily available as most Asian markets including HMart and 99 Ranch.
Oyster Sauce: Another popular sauce ingredient to add a bit more saltiness and umami is oyster sauce.
How to Make Bihun Goreng
Here is how to make bihun goreng. These fried vermicelli noodles are really easy to make as long as you have all of the ingredients organized and prepared before you begin cooking.
Prep
Soak the rice noodles. Place the rice noodles into a bowl and add hot water until the noodles are covered. Soak for 15 minutes then drain and set aside.
Marinate the shrimp. In a medium mixing bowl, add the shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Toss to combine. Set aside.
Make the stir-fry sauce. In a small mixing bowl, add the kecap manis, soy sauce, fish sauce, white pepper, sugar, and water. Mix until combined.
Stir Fry
Saute aromatics. In a hot pan over medium-high heat, add cooking oil to grease the pan, and then add the minced garlic and shallots. Saute until fragrant and golden brown.
Add shrimp, bean sprouts, and cabbage. Then add the marinated shrimp and cook until the shrimp is about 70% cooked. Then add the cabbage and bean sprouts and toss to combine until the vegetables have softened.
Scramble the eggs. Push the shrimp and vegetables to one side of the pan, add the whisked eggs, and quickly scramble. Then toss to combine with the shrimp and vegetables.
Add noodles and sauce. Lastly, add the noodles and green onions and toss to combine until the noodles have softened. Then add the sauce and toss until everything is evenly coated. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Prepare the ingredients in advance. Once you begin stir-frying the bihun recipe will move fairly fast. The easiest way to achieve a foolproof stir fry is to prep all the ingredients and mix the sauce in advance.
Do NOT boil the noodles. You do not need to boil the vermicelli noodles since you are already soaking them in warm water. Boiling the noodles will risk overcooking the noodles, having soggy noodles, or will lead to major breakage when tossing.
Rinse your beansprouts and cabbage. Rinse the beansprouts and cabbage under cold water and dry them before adding them to the stir fry. This will clean off any dirt and freshen up the bean sprouts.
For extra crispy noodles, spread the noodles across the wok into an even layer and cook untouched for 30 seconds-1 minute. This should create a nice golden brown crispy layer of noodles,
Storage Instructions
Bihun goreng is best served immediately. However, you can store any leftover fried vermicelli noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat: simply cover the noodles and microwave until warm.
FAQ
What is the meaning of bihun?
Bihun means thin rice noodles.
What is bihun goreng?
Bihun goreng which is also referred to as bee hoon goreng or mee hoon goreng refers to a dish of fried vermicelli noodles from Indonesia. There is no defined recipe or specific origin for these fried noodles. Thus, you will see that most recipes will vary from household to household.
What type of noodles should I use for bihun goreng?
Bihun goreng uses thin rice vermicelli noodles. You can find these thin rice vermicelli noodles in the dried noodle aisle at your local Asian grocery store.
How do you pan-fry bee hoon noodles without breaking them?
You can prevent noodle breakage by not boiling the noodles. Instead, all you have to do is soak the vermicelli noodles in warm but not hot water for about 10-15 minutes until they are softened and loosened. Also, do not pan-fry the noodles for too long. The longer the noodles are cooked the softer they will get.
Are rice vermicelli noodles the same as glass noodles?
No, rice vermicelli noodles are made from rice flour and are white. Glass noodles are typically made from starch such as mung bean starch or potato starch and are transparent. They often have a softer texture than rice noodles.
Is this recipe spicy?
No, this recipe is not spicy. The flavors of this dish are sweet and savory.
Can I omit the eggs?
No, the eggs are optional, but recommended. The eggs add both a texture element and are great at soaking up the bihun goreng sauce.
Easy under 30-minute bihun goreng is the answer for those busy weeknights. Made with shrimp, eggs, cabbage, bean sprouts, and a mouthwatering umami stir-fry sauce this rich and savory these stir-fried vermicelli noodles will be your next favorite stir fried noodle recipe guaranteed!
250gvermicelli rice noodles10 min soaked in warm water
1cupnapa cabbageshredded
Instructions
Prep
Soak the rice noodles. Place the rice noodles into a bowl and add hot water until the noodles are covered. Soak for 15 minutes then drain and set aside.
Marinate the shrimp. In a medium mixing bowl, add the shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Toss to combine. Set aside.
Make the stir-fry sauce. In a small mixing bowl, add the kecap manis, soy sauce, fish sauce, white pepper, sugar, and water. Mix until combined. Set aside.
Stir Fry
Saute aromatics. In a hot pan over medium-high heat, add cooking oil to grease the pan, then add the minced garlic and shallots. Saute until fragrant and golden brown.
Add shrimp, bean sprouts and cabbage. Then add the marinated shrimp and cook until the shrimp is about 70% cooked. Then add the cabbage and bean sprouts and toss to combine until the vegetables have softened.
Scramble the eggs. Push the shrimp and vegetables to one side of the pan, add the whisked eggs and quickly scramble. Then toss to combine with the shrimp and vegetables.
Add noodles and sauce. Lastly, add the noodles and green onions and toss to combine until the noodles have softened. Then add the sauce and toss until everything is evenly coated. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Prepare the ingredients in advance. Once you begin stir-frying the bihun recipe will move fairly fast. The easiest way to achieve a foolproof stir fry is to prep all the ingredients and mix the sauce in advance.
Do NOT boil the noodles. You do not need to boil the vermicelli noodles since you are already soaking them in warm water. Boiling the noodles will risk overcooking the noodles and lead to major breakage.
Rinse your beansprouts and cabbage. Rinse the beansprouts and cabbage under cold water and dry them before adding them to the stir fry. This will clean off any debris.
For extra crispy noodles, spread the noodles across the wok into an even layer and cook untouched for 30 seconds-1 minute. This should create a nice golden brown crispy layer of noodles,
Storage Instructions: Bihun goreng is best served immediately. However, you can store any leftover fried vermicelli noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat: simply cover the noodles and microwave until warm.
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