Steamed Rice Noodle Parcels

My mother had made Rice Noodle Parcels for us when we were young. They are chee cheung fun sheets (flat rice noodles) filled with a yam bean (jicama/sengkuang)) fillings served with bean paste sauce and chilli sauce. It's my BoiBoi's favourite and every weekend he'll ask me to buy from a nearby coffee shop for breakfast but that particular stall made them into rolls (fun guen in Cantonese).

I liked it a lot too and when I eat them, I know it can't be that difficult to replicate at home. This is my first attempt, hence I did not measure the ingredients. I promised to do that the next round. I did not make the rice noodles since I can buy them from the wet market at the stalls that sells all sorts of noodles, assorted fish cakes, fish balls etc. So that saves a lot of time.

For the fillings, the rough portions would be 1 portion (1 medium sized) shredded yam bean (use a coarse grater), quarter portion of shredded carrot (use the same coarse grater for uniform size) and quarter portion of French beans, sliced thin diagonally. Normally only yam bean is used but I've added carrots and French beans for colour. I've also added a small handful of dried shrimps (omit this for vegetarian version), soaked and drained. 3 cloves of garlic, chopped finely. Some oil, salt and white ground pepper.

To cook the fillings, heat about 2 - 3 tablespoons of oil in a wok (cos I find it's easier to stir the fillings in one). Fry the dried shrimp till fragrant before adding the garlic. Once garlic begins to brown, put in the yam beans and carrots. Stir to mix well. Once they begin to soften, add in about quarter cup of water. Cover with a lid and cook under low heat for about 5 minutes. Then stir and add in the French beans. Add in salt and white pepper to taste. If it's too dry, add a little more water. You may need to do this as you go on to achieve a dry mixture but yet the vegetables are soft. Stir and cover with lid. Cook until vegetables are softened.

If you noticed that your vegetables have softened but still very wet. Cook and keep stirring until mixture has dry up but yet retain a little moisture. Hehe sound complicated huh??? Just use your feel... the yam bean texture ought to be soft like popiah fillings but dry like ju hu char! Gosh I hope you got what I've meant hahaha...



Once the vegetables are done, let it cool down. To assemble, on a clean surface, take a piece of the flat rice noodle sheet and unfold it gently. Spoon fillings into a thickish log towards one of the edge, fold the short end over and roll once towards the opposite end. Tuck in both the left and right end. Continue to roll till the end... just like folding a parcel. Ok ok I promise to make a step-by-step pics next time.

Otherwise, you can make things easier by placing the fillings in a long log throughout the entire length of the sheet and roll it up like a swiss roll.



Next, place parcels on a heat proof plate and gently steam for about 6 - 8 minutes. I've used my electric steamer set at 10 minutes and felt that it's a little too hot that a couple of parcels burst. Next time, I should just reduce the timing.

You can serve the entire parcel on its own or sliced into halves with a drizzle of bean paste sauce (which you can buy from the same stall that sells the noodles, just need to add a little hot water to dilute the thick paste) and chilli sauce (I've used a blend of fresh red chillies, young ginger and garlic with loads of calamansi lime juice). Sprinkle with some deep fried shallots (but I did not have any on hand) and chopped spring onions.



Hope you got what I've meant and successfully replicate this easy peasy recipe. I know you can cos my friend (whom does not cook much) did just that the next day after showing her these 3 photos and simply by just telling her the ingredients with no instructions! Good luck!

Yes yes, I promised that I will measure my ingredients and do a step-by-step guide soon!!!