Char Kway Teow

Introduction

Char Kway Teow is a popular dish in Southeast Asia that is extremely easy to make and full of flavour. It is a stir-fried noodle dish made with flat rice noodles, eggs, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, shrimp, garlic, chilli paste, dark and light soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, white pepper, and spring onion. It is a delicious and nutritious meal that all can enjoy.

Ease of Preparation

Char Kway Teow is a simple dish to make and requires minimal effort. All the ingredients can be prepared in advance, and the dish can be cooked in minutes. The most time-consuming part is the preparation of the ingredients, but once that is done, the dish can be cooked in a wok in no time.

Nutritional Information

Char Kway Teow is a nutritious and balanced meal. It is high in protein, carbohydrates, and fibre. It is also low in fat and contains no cholesterol. One serving of Char Kway Teow provides approximately 600 calories, 30g of protein, 70g of carbohydrates, and 10g of fibre.

Ingredients

-Rice noodles (2 cups)

-Eggs (2)

-Chinese sausage (2 links, sliced)

-Bean sprouts (1 cup)

-Shrimp (1/2 cup, peeled and deveined)

-Garlic (2 cloves, minced)

-Chili paste (1 tablespoon)

-Dark soy sauce (2 tablespoons)

-Light soy sauce (2 tablespoons)

-Fish sauce (2 tablespoons)

-Oyster sauce (2 tablespoons)

-White pepper (1/4 teaspoon)

-Spring onion (1/4 cup, chopped)

Preparation Method

1. Soak the rice noodles in warm water for 10 minutes.
2. Heat a wok over medium-high heat and add the eggs. Stir-fry until lightly scrambled.
3. Add the Chinese sausage and stir-fry for 1 minute.
4. Add the bean sprouts and shrimp and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
5. Add the garlic, chilli paste, dark and light soy sauce, fish sauce, and oyster sauce and stir-fry for 1 minute.
6. Add the drained noodles and white pepper and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
7. Add the spring onion and stir-fry for 1 minute.
8. Serve hot.

Cooking Tips

-For a spicy version, add more chilli paste.

-For a sweeter version, add a tablespoon of sugar.

-For a healthier version, use low-sodium soy sauce.

Flavour/Taste

Char Kway Teow has a unique flavour that is both sweet and savoury. The noodles are stir-fried with dark and light soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and chilli paste, giving them a delicious umami flavour. It is also slightly spicy due to the chilli paste, but the soy sauce and oyster sauce’s sweetness balances the heat.

Best Dishes Paired With

Char Kway Teow pairs well with other dishes from Southeast Asia, such as Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa, and Nasi Lemak. It can also be served with steamed vegetables or a simple salad.

Origin of Dish and History

Char Kway Teow is believed to have originated in Penang, Malaysia, in the early 20th century. It is a popular street food in many countries in Southeast Asia and is often served at food stalls and hawker centres.

Popular Alternatives

Char Kway Teow is often served with different ingredients, such as squid, pork, or duck. It can also be prepared with different noodles, such as eggs, vermicelli, or glass noodles.