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National Noodle Month
March is national Noodle Month but
although they are often associated with Asian cooking, in particular Chinese and
Thai, the term “noodle” covers a multitude of items, as the definition
below proves:-
 “A
noodle is a thin strip of pasta, usually cut or extruded from some kind of
dough. It is the basic unit in dishes like spaghetti, linguine, soba, and udon.
The term often refers to moist, cooked pasta, since it has connotations of
curviness and slipperiness, but also to dried noodles that must be reconstituted
by boiling or soaking in water.”
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noodle
Do you consider spaghetti as being a noodle ? In an attempt to clarify the
matter here's another definition of what a noodle is:-
 "The
main difference between noodles and spaghetti is that, in addition to
flour and water, noodles contain eggs or egg yolks. Noodles can be cut into
flat, thick or thin strips of various lengths."
But according to the first definition, many noodles are round too.
Whatever your personal opinion of what noodles
are, they are so versatile and readily available in some form or other
throughout the world, make a point of cooking some to celebrate
National Noodle Month.
Below are just a few types of noodles you could
use plus sample recipes for them all.
Cellophane noodles also known as glass noodles or bean vermicelli.
They are a round dry transparent Asian noodle made from mung bean starch. Very
good in soups and hot pots.
Sample recipe:
Phad Thai
Asian Rice noodles. A flat noodle which is available fresh, frozen, or
dried and suitable for people with gluten free allergies.
Sample Recipe
Mohinga
Japanese Udon noodles. A thickish round wheat-flour noodle often served
in a broth or chilled with various toppings and a strong dipping sauce.
Sample recipe:
Udon Salad
Italian Egg noodles such as Tagliatelle or fettuccine . A flat
wheat-based noodle used in many dishes, usually with a sauce as a main course.
Sample recipe: Four
Cheese Fettucine
Japanese Soba noodles. Another round noodle made with buckwheat, One
again, excellent in broths or chilled with toppings and a dipping sauce.
Sample Recipe:
Chilled Soba Noodles
Lochshen. These are flat egg noodles used in Eastern European and Jewish
cuisine in dishes such as Kugel.
Sample recipe:
Apple and Cinnamon Kugel
Why not try making your own
with the aid of these specialist kitchenware items
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