Taiwanese Meefun Recipes

TAIWANESE MEEFUN

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cover rice vermicelli in cold water and soak until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water until hydrated and softened, about 10 minutes, then drain and slice 1/4-inch thick.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large, deep skillet over medium. Add beaten eggs, swirl to create an even layer, and cook until eggs are set and cooked through, about 1 minute. Transfer the cooked eggs onto a cutting board. Let cool slightly, then cut into matchsticks. Set aside.
• Return the skillet to the stove and raise heat to medium-high. Add remaining 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, the shallots and shiitake mushrooms. Season with salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the edges of shallots begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add carrot, season with salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but still crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cabbage, season with salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add tofu, soy sauce, drained rice vermicelli and 1 cup water, and cook, stirring frequently, until the noodles absorb the water, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper, and stir in reserved eggs to combine. Serve topped with cilantro and chile oil.

FALAFEL

Steps:

• Place the chickpeas and bulgur each in a bowl and add water to cover by 2 inches. Cover and soak overnight.
• Drain well and grind through the small dye of a meat grinder into a large bowl. Grind the onions and garlic through the meat grinder into the bowl.
• In a small skillet over medium heat, toast the cumin and coriander until fragrant. Transfer to a spice grinder and grind into a powder. Transfer the spices to the chickpea mixture, along with the salt, mint, cilantro, parsley and sesame seeds. Stir to combine. Mix in the baking soda and let stand for 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
• Heat a medium pot filled 2 inches with canola oil to 350 degrees. Using your hands, shape the chickpea mixture into 2-inch balls. Fry in batches for 3 minutes or until dark brown and cooked through. Serve with hummus, raita and pita bread.

TSAO MI FUN (TAIWANESE FRIED RICE NOODLES)

Steps:

• Place the pork into a mixing bowl and pour in the soy sauce and rice wine. Sprinkle with the white pepper, five-spice powder, and cornstarch. Mix well, then set aside to marinate. Soak the mushrooms in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes, then pour off the water, cut off and discard the stems of the mushrooms. Slice the mushrooms thinly and reserve. Soak the rice vermicelli in a separate bowl of cold water for 10 minutes, then pour off the water and set the noodles aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Pour in the eggs, and cook until firm, flipping once, to make a pancake. Remove the egg pancake, and allow to cool, then thinly slice and place into a large bowl. Heat 2 more tablespoons of the vegetable oil in the wok over high heat. Stir in the garlic and dried shrimp, and cook until the shrimp become aromatic, about 20 seconds. Next, add the pork along with the marinade, and cook until the pork is no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Stir in the carrots and onion, and cook until the carrots begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Finally, add the bean sprouts, napa cabbage, and sliced mushrooms; cook and stir until the vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes more. Scrape the pork mixture into the bowl along with the eggs, then wipe out the wok and return it to the stove over medium-high heat.
• Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the wok, then stir in the drained rice vermicelli noodles. Cook and stir for a few minutes until the noodles soften, then stir in the reserved pork mixture. Scrape the mixture in to a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro to serve.