This Stir-fried vermicelli dish is easy to make and has nice flavors with garlic, ginger and spicy bean paste. It’s also known as Ants Climbing a Tree since it looks like pieces of meat (ants) on vermicelli (tree branches). Don’t worry. There aren’t any ants nor a tree here but flavorful vermicelli. Vermicelli used in this recipe, also known as Cellophane noodles, is made of mung bean starch. There’s also rice vermicelli.

2 packs vermicelli (Cellophane noodles), 4 oz
3 oz ground chicken (or pork)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced ginger
2 green onions, chopped thinly
1 1/2 tablespoons spicy bean paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
Salt

1. Break vermicelli in half and soak in warm water about 20 minutes. Drain it before cooking.
2. Heat up a pan to high heat. Add oil and saute chicken about 2 minutes while breaking it up.
3. Add garlic, ginger, white parts of green onions, spicy bean paste and sugar, and saute about 15 seconds.
4. Add 1 cup water and bring to boil.
5. Add vermicelli and cook about 2 minutes or till liquid almost dries out.
6. Add half of remaining green onions and salt to taste.
7. Garnish with green onions. Serve.
Suggested servings: 3