Recipe- Restaurant Style Crispy Chinese Bhel

Chinese bhel is a delicious, easy to make addictive crispy noodles chaat made in the lines of American chopsuey. As the making is similar to bhel puri, this dish gets the name Chinese style bhel.

This unique preparation of crispy noodle salad is a delicious mix of fried noodles, vegetables sauteed in soy sauce, vinegar & finished with loads of chopped spring onion greens, cilantro leaves etc. This a vegan recipe and can be made gluten free too.

Ingredients

For Crispy Fried Noodles

200 grams noodles
4 cups water
salt to taste
oil for deep frying

For Stir Fried Vegetables

1/3 cup carrot sliced thinly
1/3 cup cabbage shredded
1/3 cup capsicum thinly sliced
1 inch ginger peeled and minced
3 garlic cloves peeled and minced
3 tablespoons spring onion white part, chopped
1/4 cup onions chopped
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon red chili sauce or paste
2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon vinegar
salt to taste
1/2 cup spring onion greens finely chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves chopped

Method

Boiling Noodles

- Open a pack of 200 grams of noodles and keep it ready. Do not break the noodles.

- Add 5 cups of water to a large pot and heat it for cooking noodles

- Let water the come to a rolling boil. Add a big pinch of salt.

- Now place the block of noodles into the water carefully. Most of the noodles packet will have cooking time mentioned, so keep a watch. It helps to cook the noodles a minute or two less than what is mentioned to get al dente texture.

- Mix very gently. Add few drops of oil over the noodles.

- Mix again gently. As the water boils, noodles will become soft. Usually this takes around 4-6 minutes.

- Now mix very gently so that the noodles do not stick to the bottom of the pan. As the noodles cook, they will begin to float, also check the time mentioned in the pack.

- Once they are soft, switch off the flame and immediately drain the boiled noodles in a colander. Rinse the cooked noodles under running water to prevent further cooking. Spread the cooked noodles on a plate and set aside to dry for an hour.

Making Crispy Fried Noodles

- Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy pan. Once the oil is hot maintain medium flame.

- To check if oil is ready for frying, add few boiled and dried noodles in the hot oil. If it sizzles up after a second, oil is ready for frying. If you are using a thermometer it should ready 190 C.

- Once the oil is heated, add boiled noodles in batches to it.

- Deep fry the noodles in medium flame until it turns crispy and golden.

- Remove to a plate lined with kitchen towel to drain excess oil. Break the fried noodles into small pieces. You can prepare this a day or two ahead. Keeps well in airtight container.

Stir Frying Vegetables With Sauces For Chinese Bhel

- Heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a broad wok or heavy pan. Add 1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes, 1 inch peeled and minced ginger, 3 garlic cloves minced and 2 tablespoons chopped spring onion whites. Saute in high heat for a minute. Also add 1/4 cup chopped onions.

- Now add 1/3 cup each- shredded cabbage, thinly sliced bell pepper and carrots. Saute in high heat for another 2 minutes.

- Now add red chilli sauce or green chili sauce. I have added homemade chili paste. Mix well and saute.

- Next add tomato ketchup. If you don’t have ketchup you can add 1 tablespoon tomato sauce or paste along with 1/2 tablespoon sugar. You can also add date syrup or honey or maple too.

- Add 2 tablespoons soy sauce. I have added low sodium naturally brewed soy sauce. If you are using regular sauce add 1 tablespoon only.

- Next add 1 teaspoon sugar and mix well.

- Finally add salt to taste and freshly cracked black pepper.

- Saute everything until well combined for a minute or two in high flame until the sauce combines. Remove the sauce for Chinese bhel from the heat.

Crispy Fried Noodles Tossed In Vegetables

- Divide the prepared veg stir fry among three serving bowls. You can also toss everything together in a mixing bowl.

- Add about 3/4 cup deep fried noodles on the top.

- Do not over mix. Add finely chopped spring onion greens, more ketchup of required and chopped cilantro leaves. Serve Chinese bhel immediately.