Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of pasta: "vermicelli" refers to pasta that is formed into long, thin, solid strings. These strings are thinner than spaghetti.
   • A type of noodle: In broader culinary contexts, especially in Asian cuisines, "vermicelli" can also refer to very thin noodles made from ingredients other than wheat, such as rice or mung bean starch.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The recipe calls for a handful of vermicelli to be added to the soup.
  • She prepared a cold salad with rice vermicelli, fresh herbs, and grilled chicken.
  • In Italy, vermicelli is often served with light seafood sauces.

Advanced Usage

• "Rice vermicelli": A specific type of thin noodle made from rice flour, common in Southeast Asian dishes like phở or spring rolls.
  • Pad Thai is traditionally made with rice vermicelli.
• "Cellophane vermicelli" / "Glass vermicelli": Refers to transparent noodles made from mung bean starch, also known as bean threads or glass noodles.
  • The stir-fry included cellophane vermicelli, which absorbed the flavors of the sauce beautifully.

Variants and Related Words

• Vermiculated (adj): Having a pattern resembling worm tracks or the wavy lines of vermicelli. This is a technical term used in design, architecture, or zoology.
  • The marble had a beautiful vermiculated texture.
• Vermicelli-like (adj): Resembling vermicelli in shape or thinness.
  • He cut the vegetables into vermicelli-like strips.

Synonyms

• Thin pasta: (General category)
• Angel hair pasta / Capellini: (A type of pasta even thinner than vermicelli)
• Rice noodles / Rice sticks: (For the Asian variety)

Related Phrases

• A nest of vermicelli: Refers to vermicelli that is bundled and dried into a disc or nest shape for easy portioning.
  • Simply drop a nest of vermicelli into the boiling broth.

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms directly using the word "vermicelli.")

Noun

1. pasta in strings thinner than spaghetti