Cry Baby Noodles Recipe: Spice Up Your Meals!

Name: Cry Baby Noodles Recipe: Spice Up Your Meals!
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: Wide rice noodles, 150g; Vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon; Minced garlic, 1 tablespoon; Minced shallots, 1 tablespoon; Minced red chili, 1 tablespoon; Oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon; Soy sauce, 1 tablespoon; Sugar, 1 tablespoon; MSG, 1 tablespoon (optional); Minced pork or other protein, 1 tablespoon (optional)

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Cry Baby Noodles Recipe is a tasty Thai dish known for its strong and spicy taste. It’s made with wide rice noodles, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, fish cake tofu, eggs, and many different sauces like XO sauce, miso paste, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce. The noodles are stir-fried until they get a bit charred, and green onions are added on top as a garnish.

People think that Cry Baby Noodles started as a street food in Thailand. Now, it’s becoming more and more popular not just in Thailand, but all over the world. You can find this dish in many Thai restaurants, and it’s getting a lot of attention on social media and cooking shows too.

The name “Cry Baby Noodles” might come from how spicy the dish is – it’s so hot that it could make you cry! But some people think the name just points to the strong flavors in the dish.

Cry Baby Noodles is a great choice for a quick, yummy meal, especially for those who love spicy food.

The History Of Cry Baby Noodles

While the origins of cry baby noodles remain shrouded in mystery, popular belief traces them back to the bustling street food arenas of Thailand. Traditionally crafted with broad rice noodles, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, fish cake tofu, eggs, and a medley of sauces including XO and miso paste, the dish is famed for its robust flavors. Typically stir-fried to a slight char, a garnish of green onions often adds a finishing touch.

The name, cry baby noodles, is suspected to stem from its fierce spice level, capable of bringing tears to the eyes of diners. Alternatively, it could be a nod to the dish’s bold taste profile.

Witnessing a surge in popularity globally, cry baby noodles grace the menus of numerous Thai eateries and have garnered attention through social media and culinary television shows. In 2022, the Netflix Thai movie “Hunger” spotlighted the dish, weaving a narrative around a young woman’s venture into opening a street food outlet serving cry baby noodles. The film’s acclaim played a role in broadening the dish’s global audience, underscoring its position as a delightful, quick meal choice for spice aficionados.

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Cry Baby Noodles In Thai

In Thai, “Cry Baby Noodles” could be translated as “ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเด็กหอย” (Gway Tiao Dek Hoy). This is a literal translation, with “ก๋วยเตี๋ยว” (Gway Tiao) meaning noodles and “เด็กหอย” (Dek Hoy) translating to “cry baby.” However, it’s important to note that this dish might have a different local name in Thailand, or it might be known by its description rather than a direct translation of “Cry Baby Noodles.”

Cry Baby Noodles Recipe

Ingredients:

150g of your favorite noodles
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced shallots
1 tablespoon minced red chili
1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon MSG (optional)

1 tablespoon minced pork or other protein (optional)

Equipment:

To whip up a batch of cry baby noodles recipe, make sure you have these tools ready:

Wok or large frying pan

Tongs
Spatula
Cutting board

Sharp knife

A wok is perfect for making cry baby noodles because it evenly spreads heat and can handle high temperatures. If you don’t have a wok, a large frying pan will do the trick too. You’ll need tongs and a spatula to mix and turn the noodles and other ingredients as they cook.

Don’t forget a cutting board and a sharp knife. You’ll use them for slicing garlic, ginger, and any other veggies you plan to add.

It might also be handy to have these items:

Measuring cups and spoons
Serving bowls

Chopsticks or forks

With all your gear set, you’re all set to start cooking up some delicious cry baby noodles recipe!

Instructions:

Cook the noodles according to the package instructions and set aside.

Heat the vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, shallots, and red chili. Sauté until fragrant.
If using protein like minced pork, add it to the pan and cook thoroughly.
Add the cooked noodles to the pan, followed by oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and MSG (if using). Stir well to combine all the ingredients and ensure the noodles are well coated with the sauces and spices.

Adjust the seasoning to taste, and serve the noodles hot, garnished with additional minced red chili if desired.

Enjoy your homemade Cry Baby Noodles!

Tips:

Keep these handy tips in your back pocket for a meal that’s sure to dazzle:

Craving that rich, smoky essence? Let the noodles char a bit before mixing them with the sauce.
No XO sauce in the cupboard? No worries! Blend 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce with 1 teaspoon of shrimp paste as a quick substitute.
Opting for a vegetarian twist? Just skip the Chinese sausage and dried shrimp. Toss in your favorite veggies like broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers for a hearty, veggie-rich version.

Got sauce troubles? If it’s too thick, lighten it up with a splash of water or chicken broth. Too runny? Thicken it up with a blend of 1 tablespoon each of cornstarch and water.
If the heat gets too intense, cool things down with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.

Now, you’re all geared up to bring the flavors of cry baby noodles to life in your kitchen! Enjoy the culinary adventure!

Variations

Want to add a twist to your cry baby noodles? Check out these exciting variations for a new spin on the classic dish:

Pad Thai Cry Baby Noodles: Give it a Pad Thai touch. Add fish sauce, tamarind paste, and palm sugar to the mix for a delightful flavor enhancement.

Drunken Noodles Style: Infuse the flavors of Drunken Noodles by adding Thai basil, holy basil, and Thai chili peppers to the dish.
Seafood Lovers’ Dream: Stir in cooked shrimp, mussels, or squid for a seafood spin on the classic cry baby noodles.
Chicken Cry Baby Noodles: Love chicken? Just add cooked chicken pieces to the dish.

Go Green: Make it vegetarian by leaving out Chinese sausage and dried shrimp. Add in more vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers.
Turn Up the Heat: Love it hot? Add an extra punch with more chili peppers in the sauce.
Sweet Sensation: For a sweeter note, add more palm sugar to the sauce.

Tangy Twist: Want it more zesty? Squeeze in more lime juice to the sauce.
Creamy Comfort: For a creamy texture, put a dollop of sour cream or yogurt into the dish.

Feel free to get creative with the noodles too. Try it with udon, soba, or ramen noodles. Toss in other veggies like mushrooms, onions, or snow peas for added crunch and flavor. The sky’s the limit, so have fun experimenting with your cry baby noodles!

Troubleshooting

Issue	Fix
Noodles clumping together.	Opt for high-temperature cooking oils like peanut or vegetable oil. Introduce a bit of water to the wok or skillet prior to adding noodles.
Noodles too soft.	Ensure noodles are not overcooked. They should retain some firmness.
Vegetables losing their crunch.	Insert vegetables later during the cooking to maintain their crunchiness.
Sauce overly thick.	Lighten the sauce with a touch of water or chicken broth.
Sauce too liquidy.	Utilize a cornstarch blend (mix equal parts of cornstarch and water) to add thickness to the sauce.
Excessive spiciness in the dish.	Include a spoonful of sour cream or yogurt to mellow down the heat.

FAQs

How do you make cry baby noodles from hunger? Boil rice noodles, and stir-fry with meats, tofu, and eggs. Add sauces and garnish with green onions for perfect cry baby noodles.

What is the noodle dish in the movie Hunger? The noodle dish in the movie Hunger is called “Cry Baby Noodles”. It is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish.

Can you make noodles with cornstarch? Yes, cornstarch is used in gluten-free noodle recipes to give structure and chewiness to the noodles.

What is Ngo Ngae noodles? Ngo Ngae noodles are a Thai dish made with specific herbs including Ngo Ngae, commonly used in soups.

What does adding milk to noodles do? Milk gives noodles a creamy texture, creating a rich and smooth sauce in pasta dishes.

How do you shock noodles? To shock noodles, transfer them to an ice-water bath post-cooking to stop further cooking and retain texture.

Conclusion

Cry baby noodles offer a delightful, hearty meal that’s ready in a snap, making it an ideal choice for those with a penchant for spicy delicacies. You’ll need a variety of ingredients including wide rice noodles, Chinese sausage, and an array of sauces and seasonings. The cooking process is straightforward: boil the noodles, create the sauce mixture, and stir-fry the assorted ingredients together, finishing off with a garnish of green onions. Enhance the dish by charring the noodles slightly for a smokier taste. Alternatives include substituting XO sauce with a blend of oyster sauce and shrimp paste or adapting the dish to a vegetarian diet by excluding certain ingredients. Manage the consistency of your sauce with water, chicken broth, or a cornstarch slurry, and control the heat level with a touch of sour cream or yogurt to ensure your cry baby noodles are just to your liking.