Nan Gyi Thoke (Burmese Thick Rice Noodle Salad with Chicken Curry)
Local name: နန်းကြီးသုပ်
In short: Thick round rice noodles tossed by hand with chicken curry oil, toasted chickpea flour, lime and coriander, served with tender chicken curry. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 660 kcal
Nan gyi thoke is a hand-tossed noodle salad from Myanmar. Thick, round rice noodles are mixed with the red oil from a chicken curry, toasted chickpea flour, lime, fried onion and coriander, then served with a ladle of the curry itself and slices of boiled egg. It is eaten at lunch and as a snack, and it is mild, savory and satisfying. The trick is to toss it right before serving, so the noodles stay springy.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and cook the grated onion for 8 to 10 minutes until deep golden. Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, paprika and chili powder and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the chicken and stir for 5 minutes. Pour in the fish sauce, salt and water, cover and simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken is tender and reaches 74°C (165°F) and red oil rises to the surface.
- Spoon 3 tablespoons of the red oil from the top of the curry into a small bowl. Set the curry aside, keeping it warm.
- Toast the chickpea flour in a dry pan over medium heat for 2 minutes until nutty and fragrant.
- Cook the noodles according to the packet, or blanch fresh noodles in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain well.
- Toss the hot noodles with the reserved curry oil, toasted chickpea flour, lime juice and fish sauce.
- Divide among bowls. Top each with a ladle of chicken curry, sliced egg, spring onions, fried onions, coriander and chili flakes. Toss at the table and eat.
Tips
- Use thick round rice noodles, sometimes labelled rice sticks or nan gyi. Thin rice vermicelli turns soft and sticky in this dish.
- Make the chicken curry up to 3 days ahead and reheat it. Cook and toss the noodles just before serving.
Questions and answers
What does nan gyi thoke mean?
Nan gyi means thick, round rice noodles and thoke means a salad tossed by hand. The name describes how the dish is made and eaten.
Can I use other noodles for nan gyi thoke?
Thick round rice noodles give the right chew. Flat rice noodles or thick vermicelli work as substitutes, but avoid very thin noodles.
Is nan gyi thoke spicy?
It is mild. The curry has only a little chili, and extra chili flakes or chili oil are added at the table.
How long does it take to make Nan Gyi Thoke (Burmese Thick Rice Noodle Salad with Chicken Curry)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Nan Gyi Thoke (Burmese Thick Rice Noodle Salad with Chicken Curry)?
About 660 kcal per serving, with 32 g of protein, 68 g of carbohydrates and 28 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 660 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68 g |
| Fat | 28 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
