• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peter's Food Adventures
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • recipes
  • about
  • travel
  • Follow and Share!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • recipes
    • about
    • travel
  • Follow and Share!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Asian Recipes

    Asian Noodle Salad - Funchoza

    Author: Peter Kolesnichenko · Published: May 28, 2015 · Modified: Jun 7, 2021

    Jump to Recipe

    Looking for a different Asian Noodle Salad? A recipe that's not found in your food courts or supermarkets? Look no further! This Noodle Salad is based on a Central Asian recipe called Funchoza. Not a Chinese, Japanese or Korean salad, but from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and ethnically from the Uyghurs in Northwest China.

    Asian Noodle Salad with shrimp and glass noodles
    • sliced vegetables for asian salad
    • mixing asian noodle salad

    Traditionally Funchoza is made with chicken or beef, and never with shrimp. It's my Australian addition to one of my favorite Central Asian salads, we love shrimp here! You've probably haven't tasted anything like this salad before. It's my Chicken and Shrimp Glass Noodle Salad, a stir fried noodle salad with vegetables and meat! It would be similar to Japchae, with the main difference is the dressing used, and Japchae is sweeter.

    Hot Asian Noodle Salad

    This is something that many people may not have heard of, a hot salad. But yes, they do exist. Not all salads are leafy green lettuce recipes, think Eastern European Salads. Although the viewpoint of salads in the western world is green lettuce, it's not always the case, think potato salad (Olivier Salad). 

    This Funchoza Asian Noodle Salad can both be eaten hot, warm or cold. I prefer eating it cold. Just refrigerate it before serving. It's a hearty salad, and can be eaten like a meal, perfect for lunch.

    • stir fry daikon and peppers
    • asian noodle salad ingredients for funchoza

    Asian Noodle Salad with Shrimp

    There are many variations of this dish, with different vegetables, spices and meats. My Asian Noodle Salad is made with chicken and shrimp. Of course you could make it without the shrimp, but the chicken and shrimp complement each other perfectly in this salad. Served cold, it's perfect to enjoy on a hot summer's day! I always use raw shrimp, or green prawns when making this recipe. Frozen shrimp is fine to use, and the flavor is tastier than using pre-cooked frozen shrimp.

    What are Garlic Chives?

    Garlic chives (джусай) are an under rated herb. As a child, none of my friends knew what garlic chives were, it definitely wasn't easily available at the grocery stores at the time. Garlic Chives look like a flat onion chive, but taste more like garlic. You can find them at local farmer's markets or sometimes in Chinese grocers. It's a staple herb in Central Asian foods.

    If you don't have garlic chives, just chop some regular green onions. If you can find garlic chives, you need to use them! Not only does it add a nice visual contrast to the dish, but most importantly it adds great flavor.

    • frying shrimp and garlic chives
    • glass noodles or bean vermicelli noodles

    How to Make Asian Noodle Salad

    This recipe uses a rice vermicelli (glass noodles) or bean thread vermicelli, found in most supermarkets. The noodles a very long, and need to be cut with scissors after cooking the noodles. Making Asian Noodle Salad is going to feel a bit like making a stir fry. Fry the proteins and vegetables, then toss in with the rice noodles.

    I always use a wok, and this recipe requires the ingredients to be cooked separately, before being mixed together at the end. I start with frying onions the chicken until they're cooked. Then I fry julienned carrots in sesame oil, and set them aside. Then I fry the daikon and red peppers, and set them aside. Finally I fry the shrimp with garlic chives, fresh garlic and chili peppers. All the ingredients are then mixed together with the glass noodles with soy sauce and chinese vinegar. I use disposable gloves when doing this, as this salad is kind of oily!

    I love the freshness the cilantro and the shrimp add to this Asian Noodle Salad, with a hint of black Chinese vinegar. I have a spicy sesame oil which I add at the very end for a spicy kick, however, recommend using regular sesame oil.

    • black vinegar and cilantro
    • mixing funchoza asian noodle salad

    Chinese Black Vinegar Dressing

    I think the hero of the flavor of this salad is the sauces. Chinese Vinegar, Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil. This Chinese Black vinegar dressing cuts through the oil from the fried vegetables. Just view it as an oil and vinegar salad, except the oil is fried with vegetables!

    I add extra black vinegar because I love the tangy taste. Be sure to add black vinegar in small amounts, and taste as you go. The ratio of soy to vinegar is 3:1. Be careful not to over-vinegar. If unsure, go with less black vinegar and leave on the serving table for people to add as they like. Add a tiny bit of sesame oil and your dressing is done!

    The best Chinese Vinegar to use is Great Wall Black Vinegar, made from Sorghum and Millet. Not all Chinese Vinegars are the same. A popular one is the Chingkiang Vinegar made from rice, but that one is best used as a dipping sauce.

    Remember to  always leave the Black Chinese Vinegar on the table, so your guests can add more to their plates when they eat. I think you'll love this yummy Glass Noodle Salad with Chicken and Shrimp, it's worth the effort to make. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

    This Asian Noodle Salad comes from Central Asia. It's a colorful salad, deliciously served cold or warm. Made with chicken, shrimp, bean vermicelli, cilantro, red peppers and shrimp, a perfect combination!

    Asian Noodle Salad - Funchoza

    This Asian Noodle Salad is made with glass noodles, vegetables, chicken and shrimp. It's a colorful salad, deliciously served cold or warm. You'll love the Chinese Black Vinegar dressing!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Course: Salad, Side Dish, Sides
    Cuisine: Asian, Central Asian
    Keyword: Asian Noodle Salad, glass noodle salad
    Servings: 8 people
    Author: Peter Kolesnichenko

    Ingredients

    • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced into thin strips
    • 1 lb /½ kg raw shrimp peeled and deveined
    • 2 large onions
    • 5 carrots peeled and julienned
    • ½ daikon radish peeled and julienned optional
    • 1 red bell pepper julienned
    • 1 cup of chopped garlic chives
    • 1 package of Bean Vermicelli noodles* 9oz/350g
    • 3 cloves of garlic crushed
    • 2 hot chili peppers (optional)
    • 1 bunch of fresh Cilantro about ½ cup
    • ⅓ cup plus 3 teaspoons of Soy Sauce
    • 6 teaspoons of Great Wall Black Chinese vinegar
    • vegetable oil
    • sesame oil

    Instructions

    • Heat a large frying pan with 2 tablespoons of oil on high heat and cook the onions until they become translucent - approx. 5 minutes.
    • Add the chicken and cook together until the chicken is browned and the onions are caramelised, on medium high heat. There will be a point where the juices from the onions and chicken will make the frying pan quite juicy, but continue frying until the onions caramelise. (8-10 minutes) Set aside the cooked onions and chicken.
    • Heat the same frying pan with 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil on high heat and add julienned carrots. Fry on medium high heat for 8-10 minutes until carrots are soft and caramelising. Set aside.
    • Heat frying pan with 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil on high heat and add the julienned red peppers and julienned daikon. Cook for approx 5 minutes and set aside. The daikon and peppers will have a slight crunchy texture in the salad. If you prefer they are fully cooked, then continue to cook until soft and caramelised. (approx 10 minutes)
    • Heat frying pan with 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil on high heat. Add crushed garlic and chopped chilli peppers and garlic chives. Add the raw shrimp and cook until the flesh is bright pink and opaque white. (approx. 5-6 minutes)
    • Prepare the Bean Vermicelli according to package directions. Cut noodles using kitchen shears into 6" pieces. Drain from the water and put inside a large mixing bowl.
    • Add the chicken, onion, carrots, daikon, red peppers, shrimp, cilantro, chilli, garlic chives into the large mixing bowl of vermicelli and mix thoroughly. Wear disposable kitchen gloves to mix, as it's quite oil and messy. Add the soy sauce and Chinese vinegar and sesame oil to taste. 

    Notes

    * I prefer to use Bean Vermicelli as it absorbs flavor better and has better texture in the dish (will not fall apart as easy). Can use Rice Vermicelli also.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com

    • Asian Noodle Salad
    • Asian Noodle Salad

    More Asian Recipes

    • bowl of korean fried rice with a fried egg
      Kimchi Rice
    • This Chili Mango Sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy sauce. Delicious with seafood, chicken or pork, or as a dipping sauce. Easy to make with an explosion of tropical flavor, packs the perfect punch, extra spicy if you use habaneros! Not too spicy, not too sweet but just right!
      Mango Sauce
    • pineapple fried rice served inside pineapples
      Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
    • stir fried snow peas on a plate
      How to Cook Snow Peas

    Primary Sidebar

    Peter's Food Adventures - where you'll find Russian recipes, Slavic and International favorites with some fun travel and cooking videos. A Russian Food Blogger.

    Hi, I'm Peter!

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to create tasty meals for your family!

    Food is the ingredient that brings people together. I love authentic foods, and have a very multicultural food background. I am genuinely happy to share the recipes of foods that make me and my family happy. And hopefully yours too. 

    Learn more about me →

    As Featured On

    As Featured On various magazine brands

    Popular Recipes

    • A Hungarian classic summer dish - paprika peppers with with ground beef, rice and paprika spice. Cooked in a delicious tomato passata sauce. Summer comfort food - Hungarian Stuffed Peppers (töltött paprika)
      Hungarian Stuffed Peppers (töltött paprika)
    • Greek Meze Plates
    • pineapple fried rice served inside pineapples
      Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
    • black caviar on a plate served with blinis
      How to Eat Caviar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Intellectual Property

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Peter's Food Adventures

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    343 shares
    • 114