Glass noodles, also known as cellophane noodles or bean thread noodles, are made primarily from starch and water. The starch used can come from various sources including mung beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes, or tapioca. The exact starch source often depends on the region: for example, in China, mung bean starch is commonly used, while in Korea and Japan, sweet potato starch is more typical
. The production process involves creating a slurry of the starch and water, which is mixed, pulled, and pressed through a sieve to form long, thin strands. These strands are then dried to make the noodles. The noodles are translucent or glass-like when cooked, which is why they are called "glass noodles"
. In summary:
- Main ingredients: starch (from mung beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes, or tapioca) and water
- Common starch sources by region: mung bean starch (China), sweet potato starch (Korea, Japan)
- Process: starch slurry mixed with water, pressed into thin strands, dried
- Appearance: translucent or glass-like when cooked
These noodles are gluten-free and widely used in East and Southeast Asian cuisines in dishes like soups, stir-fries, and salads
