Miến Xào Cua (Vietnamese Glass Noodle Stir-Fry with Crab)

Ingredients

• 200g (7 oz) glass noodles 200g (7 oz) glass noodles
• 200g (7 oz) crab meat 200g (7 oz) crab meat
• 1 carrot, julienned 1 carrot, julienned
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 100g (3.5 oz) mushrooms, sliced 100g (3.5 oz) mushrooms, sliced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 thumb-sized ginger, grated 1 thumb-sized ginger, grated
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced 2 shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon sugar
• Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 250 kcal / 1046 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 6g, 1g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 40g, 4g
• Protein: 12g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Soak the glass noodles in warm water for about 10 minutes until they become soft. Drain and set aside.
2. 2.
   In a wok or large pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and shallots, and sauté until fragrant.
3. 3.
   Add the crab meat to the pan and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
4. 4.
   Add the carrots, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the pan and stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are slightly tender.
5. 5.
   Push the ingredients to one side of the pan and add the glass noodles to the other side. Pour the oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar over the noodles and gently toss everything together until well combined.
6. 6.
   Continue stir-frying for another 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through and evenly coated with the sauce.
7. 7.
   Remove from heat and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
8. 8.
   Serve hot and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Glass noodles — Make sure to soak the glass noodles in warm water until they are soft but still slightly firm to the bite. Over-soaking can make them mushy.
• Crab meat — If using fresh crab meat, ensure it is cooked and picked from the shells. If using canned crab meat, drain it well before adding it to the stir-fry.

Tips & Tricks

• To add a spicy kick, you can include a small amount of sliced chili peppers or chili flakes.
• For a vegetarian version, substitute the crab meat with tofu or mushrooms.
• Customize the vegetable selection based on personal preference or seasonal availability.
• Adjust the seasoning according to taste preference by adding more soy sauce or fish sauce if desired.
• To enhance the presentation, garnish with a squeeze of lime juice and some crushed peanuts.

Serving advice

Miến Xào Cua is best served hot as a main dish. It can be enjoyed on its own or with a side of steamed rice.

Presentation advice

To present Miến Xào Cua beautifully, arrange the stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables on a large serving platter. Top it with the succulent crab meat and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Serve with a lime wedge on the side for an extra burst of citrus flavor.