Quick & Comforting Shrimp Noodle Soup (Dragon Beard Noodles)
A delicate and comforting 15-minute shrimp noodle soup featuring tender dragon beard noodles, vibrant julienned carrots, and plump shrimp in a clear, savory broth.
This homestyle shrimp noodle soup is a masterclass in simplicity and flavor building. By starting the raw shrimp in cold water, the broth slowly extracts their natural sweetness, creating a delicate seafood base that pairs perfectly with fine, silken dragon beard noodles. The addition of Sichuan peppercorn powder provides a subtle, warming tingle, balanced by a dash of savory oyster sauce.
Ingredients
- 200 g dried dragon beard noodles
- 200 g raw shrimp, tails on
- 1 small carrot, julienned
- 1 thumb ginger, julienned
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorn powder
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- to taste salt
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 handful scallions, chopped
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- 1Prepare Ingredients
Arrange the prepared ingredients on a white plate: julienned carrots, fresh cilantro, chopped scallions, julienned ginger, raw shrimp with tails, and dried noodles.
Tip: Slice the carrots and ginger evenly into thin strips for better texture and flavor distribution. - 2Add Shrimp to Cold Water
Place the raw shrimp into a pot filled with cold water using a spoon.
Tip: Starting the shrimp in cold water helps draw out flavor smoothly as the temperature rises. - 3Add Dried Noodles
Lower a bundle of dried noodles directly into the pot containing the cold water and shrimp.
Tip: Ensure the noodles are evenly submerged or can soften smoothly as the water heats up. - 4Add Julienned Ginger
Add the prepared julienned ginger into the boiling pot along with the noodles.
Tip: Adding ginger early infuses a warm, aromatic flavor into the broth as it cooks. - 5Add Julienned Carrots
Carefully slide the julienned carrots from the plate into the boiling pot.
Tip: Thinly cut carrots cook quickly and add natural sweetness to the soup base. - 6Season with Powders
Use a wooden spoon to add Sichuan peppercorn powder and ginger powder into the boiling noodle soup.
Tip: Adjust the amount of Sichuan peppercorn powder based on your desired level of numbness and spice. - 7Add Cooking Oil
Pour a small amount of cooking oil directly into the bubbling noodle soup. This enriches the broth and helps the delicate dragon beard noodles separate as they cook.
Tip: A little oil creates a smoother mouthfeel for the soup base without making it greasy. - 8Season with Salt
Sprinkle salt into the broth using a small spoon to season the noodles and soup base. Give the pot a gentle stir so the seasoning dissolves evenly.
Tip: Season gradually and taste the broth to avoid over-salting, especially before adding the oyster sauce. - 9Stir in Oyster Sauce
Squeeze a generous amount of oyster sauce straight from the bottle into the cooking soup. This adds a deep, savory umami flavor that perfectly complements the shrimp.
Tip: Oyster sauce brings both savoriness and a touch of sweetness to balance the clear broth. - 10Garnish with Herbs
Right before removing the pot from the heat, drop the freshly chopped cilantro and scallion flowers into the soup. Adding them at the very end preserves their vibrant color and fresh aroma.
Tip: Do not boil the herbs; the residual heat from the soup is enough to release their full flavor. - 11Add Sesame Oil
Drizzle a small amount of sesame oil directly into the simmering noodle soup to enhance the aroma before serving.
Tip: Add sesame oil just before turning off the heat to preserve its delicate fragrance.
