What Is Vermicelli pasta and How Can I Use It?
If vermicelli pasta has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 52 recipes to try it in.
Key Points
- Wheat vermicelli is a thin pasta strand; do not confuse it with rice vermicelli noodles.
- Italian vermicelli runs thicker than spaghetti; the American style is thinner, near angel hair.
- Often broken and toasted before cooking for a nutty flavor in pilafs and fideo.
- Toasted strands burn fast over high heat, turning from golden to bitter in seconds.
- Dried strands cook in about 3 to 5 minutes; angel hair or capellini swap in well.
What is vermicelli pasta?
Vermicelli is a thin wheat-pasta strand whose name means "little worms" in Italian. In Italy it is a round strand slightly thicker than spaghetti, while in the United States the same label usually means a strand thinner than spaghetti, close to angel hair.
Either way, this is the wheat-flour pasta. Do not confuse it with rice vermicelli, the translucent Asian rice noodle used in spring rolls and stir-fries; that is a different ingredient that soaks rather than boils.
One quirk sets wheat vermicelli apart: it is often broken into short pieces and toasted before cooking, which gives it a nutty flavor and golden color.
How to Use It
Whole strands take a light sauce the way any thin pasta does, as in this vermicelli with tomatoes and chipotle chiles, or a richer meat treatment like vermicelli with meat sauce and feta.
Its other life is as a flavor base. Broken into inch-long bits and browned in butter or oil before the liquid goes in, it turns up in pilafs from the Middle East to Mexico.
The toasted strands in Armenian rice pilaf are the textbook example, and the same trick makes Mexican fideo.
Watch the toasting closely. It goes from golden and nutty to bitter and burnt in seconds over high heat.
Cooking and Substitutes
As whole pasta, the thin strand cooks quickly, roughly 3 to 5 minutes for dried, so check it early and pull it at al dente. Toasted bits cooked pilaf-style simmer in their liquid until tender, like rice.
The closest swap is angel hair or capellini for the fine American style, or thin spaghetti for the slightly thicker Italian style. For a pilaf, any thin wheat strand broken up and toasted will do the same job.
Buying and Storing
Dried vermicelli, sold as straight strands or coiled nests, keeps a year or two sealed in a cool, dry cupboard. Some Middle Eastern and Latin brands sell it pre-cut into short lengths specifically for pilaf and fideo, which saves you breaking it by hand.
Store it like any dried pasta, away from heat and moisture, and it stays good well past a year.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (140g)Quick facts
Where to find vermicelli pasta: Vermicelli pasta is usually found in the pasta section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Vermicelli pasta is a member of the Legumes and Legume Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 粉条面食
- British (UK) term
- Vermicelli pasta
- en français
- vermicelles
- en español
- Pasta de fideos
How much does vermicelli pasta weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 140 grams |
Related
Legumes and Legume Products
Recipes using vermicelli pasta
There are 52 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Mediterranean Pasta
Mediterranean pasta with chicken, bacon, artichoke hearts, olives, and rosemary in tomato sauce over vermicelli. Crumbled feta on top. Weeknight dinner classic.
Cincinnati 5-Way Chili
Cincinnati 5-way chili: cinnamon and allspice-spiced beef chili ladled over vermicelli, then crowned with beans, onions, and cheddar. Greek-influenced Midwestern original.
Cafe Kati's Mango Spring Rolls
Fresh no-cook mango spring rolls wrapped in rice paper with vermicelli, basil, mint, bean sprouts, and shredded carrots. Light, vibrant Thai-inspired rolls with spicy vinaigrette for dipping.
Sunomono or Japanese Noodle & Cucumber Salad
This salad is subtle and very refreshing. There are a variety of textures-chewy cold noodles (bean thread noodles, some call them cellophane noodles 'cause when you boil them they become clear), crunchy sesame seeds, and crunchy cucumber slices. Sugar salt, and vinegar combine harmoniously, each understated but very much present.
Vermicelli with Meat Sauce & Feta Cheese
Vermicelli tossed in a chunky ground beef and plum tomato sauce with fresh basil, finished with crumbled feta cheese. A Greek-Italian mashup that's on the table in 40 minutes.
Sago & Vermicelli Kheer
Indian sago and vermicelli kheer with golden raisins and cardamom simmered in milk. A creamy, fragrant pudding dessert served hot or chilled.
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Old-fashioned chicken spaghetti casserole made from scratch with a whole stewing hen, creamy mushroom roux, hard-boiled eggs, and melted cheddar. Makes two casseroles so you can freeze one for later.
Sewian (Vermicelli)
Sewian is a classic Indian vermicelli dessert fried golden in ghee, then slow-simmered in milk with sugar and rose water. Topped with slivered almonds and pistachios for a fragrant, creamy sweet.
Kheer
Indian kheer vermicelli pudding made with butter-toasted noodles, simmered milk, raisins, slivered almonds, and a finishing cream pour. A classic South Asian dessert served chilled.
Vermicelli with No-Cook Tomato Sauce
Hot vermicelli tossed with a raw egg, sun-dried tomato, Parmesan, and lemon sauce that cooks on contact. A carbonara-style no-cook pasta ready in 30 minutes flat.
Easy Spaghetti
Easy spaghetti tosses al dente noodles with a quick onion-garlic-tomato sauce simmered in a single skillet. Pantry weeknight pasta in 35 minutes, no jar required.
Don's Turkey Mystery
Don's Turkey Mystery: a one-skillet dish with leftover turkey, soy sauce, stewed tomatoes, raisins, and pineapple over vermicelli. Sweet, savory, and ready in 30 minutes.
Stir-Fried Shrimp & Vegetables with Crisp Noodle
Stir-Fried Shrimp & Vegetables with Crisp Noodle recipe
Sesame Rice Noodles
Sesame rice noodles toss soaked vermicelli with sesame oil, chile oil, bean sprouts, scallions, and cilantro. Light, fragrant Chinese-style noodles ready in 20 minutes, served hot or chilled.
Hot & Sour Vermicelli Salad
Thai-style hot and sour vermicelli salad (yam wun sen) with mushrooms, garlic oil, lemon juice, and soy sauce. Vegetarian, light, and packed with texture.
Vermicelli with Walnuts & Garlic
Vermicelli tossed with toasted walnuts, garlic-infused olive oil, pecorino cheese, and fresh parsley. A rustic Italian pantry pasta that comes together while the water boils.
Vermicelli with Chunky Vegetable Sauce
Vermicelli with a chunky vegetable tomato sauce loaded with red peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. A hearty vegetarian pasta dinner that's low in fat and full of flavor.
Gingered Soup & Pasta
Ginger chicken broth soup with vermicelli, cilantro, and scallions finished with fresh lemon. A light, aromatic bowl ready in 20 minutes.
Syrian Noodles with Lentils
Syrian noodles with lentils is a hearty one-pot vegetarian stew of cumin and coriander-spiced lentils simmered until tender, then finished with broken vermicelli. High-fiber comfort food that feeds six for pennies.
Lemony Soup
Lemony vegetable soup with chickpeas, vermicelli, and warm spices like turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, and cayenne. Bright lemon juice and fresh mint finish this hearty vegan bowl.
Vermicelli with Tomatoes & Chipotle Chiles
Toasted vermicelli simmered in a smoky chipotle-tomato broth with oregano and garlic. This Mexican-style sopa seca is a one-pot side dish with serious smoky heat.
Shrimp with Peas & Carrots
A chilled shrimp and vermicelli salad loaded with peas, green onions, dill pickles, hard-boiled eggs, and bell pepper in a tangy sour cream and mustard dressing. A hearty make-ahead salad that feeds a crowd.
Hearty Halloween Soup
Hearty Halloween soup with ground turkey, red potatoes, tomatoes, and vermicelli in an herbed broth with turkey gravy. A warming one-pot meal for a chilly October night.
Vermicelli with Red Clam Sauce
Fresh clams steamed in a garlicky tomato and white wine sauce over vermicelli. This Italian red clam sauce uses whole shell-on clams for a restaurant-worthy seafood pasta at home.
Crisp Fried Noodles & Chilli Vegetables
Crispy deep-fried Chinese vermicelli topped with stir-fried chilli vegetables in a soy, vinegar, and brown sugar sauce. A crunchy, sweet-sour vegetarian noodle dish.
Spam Carbonera
Spam carbonara with vermicelli, Parmesan, egg, and fennel seed in a broth-based sauce. A fun, pantry-friendly twist on classic Italian pasta carbonara.
Tomato Soup with Pasta
Vegetarian tomato soup with vermicelli pasta, carrots, celery, and basil in a rich stock. A hearty one-pot soup that comes together in 40 minutes.
Sopa Seca (Dry Soup)
Sopa seca turns crumbled vermicelli into a dry Mexican noodle dish with onion, garlic, green chiles, and tomato. Vegetarian and oil-free, the broth cooks down so every strand soaks up flavor.
Vermicelli in Vodka Sauce
A tasty and succulent pasta dish made with parmesan cheese and a rich and delicious vodka sauce.
Jing's Favourite Pad Thai
Authentic pad thai with rice noodles, dried shrimp, fried tofu, tamarind sauce and crushed peanuts. Real Thai street food, not the gloppy Westernized version.
Murray's Cincinnati Chili
Cincinnati-style chili with ground beef, cinnamon, allspice, cumin, and tomato paste simmered 2 to 4 hours, served over vermicelli with cheddar and raw onion.
Fideo
Classic Mexican fideo with toasted vermicelli coils simmered in tomato sauce, garlic, and onion. A quick, comforting one-pot side dish with an optional ground beef add-in.
Pasta Without Tomato
No-tomato pasta with Italian sausage, spaghetti squash, mushrooms, and fennel, finished with an egg stirred in carbonara-style. A lighter, brothy pasta dinner with hidden vegetables.
Pesto Carbonara
Pesto carbonara combining fresh basil and garlic with a classic egg-cream-Parmesan carbonara sauce over vermicelli. Crispy bacon and the heat of the pasta gently cook the egg mixture.
Gingered Chinese Noodle Soup
Chinese noodle soup with fresh ginger, cellophane noodles, ham, watercress, snow peas, and mushrooms in a soy-sesame broth. A light, aromatic 30-minute soup with crisp vegetables and rice vinegar tang.
Singapore Soup Noodles
Singapore-style soup noodles in a shrimp-shell broth with pork, shrimp, mung bean sprouts, and vermicelli, garnished with crab, cucumber, and scallions. Rich Southeast Asian seafood noodle soup.
Chinese Vegetable Miso Soup
A hearty vegetarian miso soup loaded with mushrooms, snow peas, bean sprouts, turnip, tofu, and vermicelli noodles in a sesame-scented vegetable broth. Warming, nourishing, and ready in 40 minutes.
Scallops with Vermicelli
Bay scallops with vermicelli in a fresh tomato-basil sauce, finished with cream and a whisper of nutmeg. A lighter Italian seafood pasta for weeknight dinners.
Baked Spring Rolls
Instead of deep-frying, these baked spring rolls have much less fat but still come out golden, brown and crispy. You will be amazed how delicious they are!
Authentic Ras Asfour (Lentil Soup)
Suhour (the meal before sunrise) is usually good, stick-to-your-ribs food.
Lentil & Vermicelli Soup - Shawrbat Adas
The fresh coriander and cooked vermicelli add an interesting touch to this version of lentil soup.
Seafood Tetrazinni
Creamy seafood tetrazzini with crab and shrimp in a white wine, clam juice, and Parmesan sauce tossed with vermicelli and baked until bubbly and golden.
Vermicelli Pie
A noodle crust filled with seasoned ground beef, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and pepperoni. Vermicelli pie is like lasagna and pizza had a baby, and the whole family will fight over seconds.
Thai Mussel Soup
Plump mussels steamed in white wine, then ladled into a fragrant broth of ginger, lime, bok choy, and rice noodles. A Thai-inspired seafood soup that's briny, bright, and deeply satisfying.
Cold Noodles with Tahini Dressing
Cold vermicelli tossed in a creamy lemon-garlic tahini dressing with olive oil. A 30-minute Mediterranean-inspired noodle salad that works as a side or light vegetarian main.
Mama's Shrimp Spaghetti
Shrimp spaghetti casserole in a Swiss cheese and sherry cream sauce, topped with Parmesan and slivered almonds, then broiled until golden. Southern-style comfort seafood.
Vermicelli with Ricotta Cream Sauce
Whipped ricotta blended with Parmesan, lemon zest, nutmeg, and fresh herbs creates a velvety no-cook cream sauce for vermicelli. Light, fast, and on the table in 20 minutes.
Chinese Chicken Spaghetti
A flavorful stir-fry dish combining tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and vermicelli pasta in a savory soy-sesame sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with an Asian-inspired twist.
Murray's Girlfriend's Cincinnati Chili
Cincinnati-style chili with cinnamon, allspice, and cumin served over vermicelli pasta with cheddar and raw onion. A slow-simmered, warmly spiced take on a Midwest classic.
Pasta Quiche
Pasta quiche with a vermicelli crust, Gruyere and Parmesan custard, and your choice of steamed vegetables. A clever twist on classic quiche that's endlessly customizable.
