Noodles Around The World

Noodles are a culinary staple and universal comfort food. Invented in Asia or the Middle East, it's likely that several people simultaneously had the brilliant idea to create noodles. And we are so glad they did! From spicy soups to saucy dishes and exceptional stir-fries, noodles have filled hungry stomachs around the world for centuries. Get ready to twirls and slurp your way through a culinary road-map of noodles, including udon, soba, rice, and wheat.

Noodle Dishes of China

China lays claim to a wide variety of noodles, from hand pulled wheat and egg noodles, to rice noodles and cellophane or bean thread noodles made from mung bean starch, there is something for everyone and every type of dish.

The Chinese have mastered the use of noodles, and if all you know if Chinese noodle dishes is lo mein or chow mein, you are in for a treat.

• Bangkok Street Vendor Noodles: A flavor-packed street food with thick Shanghai-style wheat noodles.
• Vegetable Chow Mein: Get a taste for real chow mein (fried egg noodles) in this simple recipe.
  
• Chinese Cold Sesame Noodles: A great use for sticky rice noodles and perfect on a hot summer day.

• Chinese Noodles in Soup: With fresh or dry egg noodles, it's comfort in a bowl.
• Pan-Fried Noodles: Thin Hong Kong noodles fried to crisp perfection.
• Shanghai Stir-Fried Noodles With Chicken: Thick Shanghai noodles make a hearty side or main.\
  
• Shrimp With Garlic Noodles: Shrimp and garlic are ideal over wide egg noodles.
• Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles: Look no further for a restaurant-worthy spicy noodle entrée.
• Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup: It's the warming soup you will be craving on cold nights.
  

Noodle Dishes of Japan

Soups and cold dishes are at the heart of Japanese noodles. From the thick chewiness of udon to thin somen, tasty buckwheat soba noodles, and konjac, they're must-try recipes.

• Vegan Udon Noodle Soup: An ideal introductory soup using Japan's definitive noodle.
• Miso Udon Noodle Soup: Dashi is Japan's go-to soup stock, and it's wonderful with udon noodles.
• Cold Somen Noodles: Cool down with a chilled somen wheat noodle dish.
  

• Kitsune Udon Noodles: It's like chicken noodle soup when you need a soothing meal.
• Tempura Udon: An umami broth, tempura, and shrimp team up for the ultimate comfort food.

• Hiyashi Yamakake Udon: On hot days, enjoy a cold noodle salad with Japanese yam.
  
• Nyumen: Somen shines in a warm and simple soup.
  
• Zaru Soba Noodles: Discover the nutty taste of soba noodles with little adornment.
• Tsukimi Soba: A traditional noodle soup of dashi, soba, and eggs.
• Cha Soba: Infused with tea, green soba is a fascinating noodle.
• Miso Ramen Japanese Soup: A classic recipe with chukamen noodles beats packaged ramen every time.
• Shoyu Ramen: Dashi, sake, and ginger give ramen extra flavor.

Noodle Dishes of Thailand

Rice noodles are a staple of Thai food. Lighter than wheat noodles, there are thick and thin varieties. Rice noodles are also naturally gluten-free.

• Thai Crispy Rice Noodles: Crispy rice noodles to dishes or eat as a snack.
• Chicken Pad Thai: Anyone can make restaurant-quality pad Thai.
• Chicken Pad See Ew: A classic stir-fry with broad rice noodles.
• Thai Pad Woon Sen: Delicate rice vermicelli stir-fry with a flavorful sauce and veggies.
  
• Thai Rice Noodle Salad With Chili-Lime Vinaigrette: A shrimp and veggie salad that's ideal for summer.
• Thai Vegetable Coconut Soup With Noodles: Coconut and noodle soup ready for lunch.

• Thai Chicken Noodle Soup: Lemongrass, galangal, bok choy, and chilies in a flavorful soup.
• Thai Rice Noodle Salad With Chili-Lime Vinaigrette: A shrimp and veggie salad that's ideal for summer.
  
  

Noodle Dishes Of Italy

Italian cuisine is centered around pasta made from scratch with double-zero flour and tossed lightly in savory sauces. Super easy to cook when you need a quick dinner, pasta noodles like fettuccine, angel hair, and spaghetti are fun to make too.

• Fresh Pasta: With four ingredients and a pasta roller, you won't buy pasta again.
• Spinach Pasta: After perfecting homemade pasta, go green with spinach dough.
• Pasta Carbonara: A creamy sauce and pancetta dress up noodles wonderfully.

• Pesto: A vibrant, cheesy and nutty fresh pesto is the perfect foil for freshly made tagliatelle or spaghetti noodles. Beyond pine nuts, try making your pesto with walnuts or pumpkin seeds.
• Bolognese: The simple ingredients plus plenty of slow cooking time make this sauce (or gravy, depending on who you ask) the perfect Sunday supper. Try your hand at rolling out fresh sheets of pasta while the sauce simmers.
• Beyond Noodles: Italy is home to over 600 unique pasta shapes, all designed with sauces in mind. From extruded shapes, shells for filling, and endless noodle widths and thicknesses, this pasta shape glossary will help you decide what's for dinner.

More Noodle Dishes from Around the World

From Korea to Vietnam, Malaysian to Peru, noodles find their way into bowls in every corner of the world. A universal comfort food second only to dumplings.

• Anytime Noodles: Leftovers become a Korean dish to enjoy "anytime."
• Robokki: Transform instant ramen noodles into Korean street food.
• Korean Stir-Fried Noodles: Jap chae is an absolute must for glass noodles.

• Pho: Rice noodles star in this emblematic Vietnamese soup.
• Bun Bo Xao: A light Vietnamese dish of lemongrass-marinated beef over rice noodles.

• Char Kway Teow: Flat rice noodles are essential to this definitive Malaysian dish.
• Laksa Noodle Soup: The taste of Southeast Asian cuisine in a single bowl.
  
• Filipino Pancit: From the Philipines, make it with Chinese egg noodles or spaghetti.
• Tallarines Verdes: Italian-style pasta in a Peruvian dish with spinach, basil, and queso fresco.

Noodle Making Kitchen Essentials

Some of the tools we can't live without when making noodles and noodle dishes from scratch at home. Plus, we keep this handy article on Pasta and Noodle Mistakes to Avoid at the ready.