Baked Shrimp in Clear Noodles

Method24 steps · about 40 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Set out the noodles, seasonings and vegetables before heating the wok. Keep the shrimp refrigerated during preparation.

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Wash the 5–7 cilantro sprigs and have them ready for grinding with the aromatics.

   Uses 5–7 cilantro sprigs

3. 3

   Step 3: Use all 6 large shrimp with their heads and shells on. Keep them cold until assembling the dish.

   Uses 6 large shrimp, heads and shells on

4. 4

   Step 4: Check the whole shrimp from step 3; this route leaves their heads and shells intact.

   Uses Six whole shrimp kept cold

5. 5

   Step 5: Keep the checked shrimp from step 4 covered in the refrigerator while preparing the noodles and aromatics.

   Uses Checked whole shrimp

6. 6

   Step 6: Cover the single bundle of dry clear noodles with hot water. Soak for 5–10 minutes, checking from 5 minutes until the noodles are softened.

   Check softened clear noodles · 5 minUses 1 bundle dry clear glass noodles · Hot water, enough to soak the noodles

7. 7

   Step 7: Snip the softened noodles from step 6 into shorter lengths with clean scissors, keeping them in their soaking bowl until needed.

   Uses Soaked noodles and soaking water

   
8. 8

   Step 8: Pound the washed cilantro from step 2 with the garlic clove, 1 tbsp ginger and all 30 peppercorns into a ground aromatic mixture. A food processor is the author’s alternative.

   Uses Washed cilantro sprigs · 1 garlic clove · 1 tbsp ginger · 30 whole peppercorns

   
9. 9

   Step 9: Check the ground mixture from step 8 and crush any remaining whole peppercorns into it.

   Uses Ground cilantro, garlic, ginger and peppercorns

10. 10

    Step 10: Have the medium onion (1 medium) ready to peel and slice.

    Uses 1 medium onion

11. 11

    Step 11: Peel the onion from step 10 and slice it thinly. Finish this preparation before heating the wok.

    Uses Medium onion ready to slice

12. 12

    Step 12: Heat the separate 1 tbsp cooking oil in a wok over low heat.

    Uses 1 tbsp cooking oil for frying the aromatics

13. 13

    Step 13: Add all the ground aromatic mixture from step 9 to the warm oil from step 12. Stir-fry over low heat for about 1 minute.

    Stir-fry ground aromatics · 1 minUses Ground aromatic mixture · Warm frying oil in the wok

    
14. 14

    Step 14: Add all the sliced onion from step 11 to the aromatic wok mixture from step 13. Stir until the onion is tender, then turn off the heat.

    Uses Thinly sliced onion · Fried aromatics and oil in the wok

15. 15

    Step 15: Drain excess water from the snipped noodles in step 7, leaving them moist. Add all the drained noodles to the onion-and-aromatic pan from step 14; discard the excess soaking water.

    Uses Drained snipped clear noodles · Tender onion and fried aromatics in the wok

16. 16

    Step 16: Check the noodles in the pan from step 15. Leave the moisture clinging to them so they remain soft during baking.

    Uses Moist noodles, onion and aromatics

17. 17

    Step 17: Keep the moist noodle mixture from step 16 in the pan and have a covered ovenproof dish or oven-safe clay pot ready.

    Uses Moist noodle mixture awaiting seasoning

18. 18

    Step 18: Add the 1½ tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar and a few drops sesame oil to the noodle mixture from step 17.

    Uses Noodle mixture in the pan · 1½ tbsp soy sauce · 1 tsp sugar · A few drops sesame oil

19. 19

    Step 19: Mix the seasoned noodles from step 18 thoroughly so the aromatics and seasonings are distributed throughout.

    Uses Noodles with soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil

20. 20

    Step 20: Preheat the oven to 400°F (about 205°C).

21. 21

    Step 21: Transfer all the mixed noodles from step 19 to the ovenproof dish or oven-safe clay pot.

    Uses Mixed seasoned clear noodles

22. 22

    Step 22: Arrange all 6 chilled shrimp from step 5 on top of the noodle mixture in step 21 and cover the dish.

    Uses Six chilled whole shrimp · Noodles in the ovenproof dish

23. 23

    Step 23: Bake the covered shrimp-and-noodle dish from step 22 in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Check that the shrimp flesh is firm, pearly and opaque; continue cooking if needed.

    Check covered shrimp and noodles · 20 minUses Covered raw-shrimp and noodle dish

24. 24

    Step 24: Serve the cooked shrimp and noodles from step 23 hot as two portions, with optional separately prepared cooked rice.

    Uses Cooked shrimp and clear noodles · Separately prepared cooked rice, optional for serving