Shrimp and Wine for Singapore Noodles

Our answer

Nigella's Singapore Noodles recipe (which accompany Seared Salmon in Nigella Express and on the Nigella website) uses several different ingredients, many of which can be kept in the store cupboard for some time. Dried shrimps add depth of flavour and can be bought from Asian supermarkets and on-line. Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing rice wine) is availabe from the same sources but in the Uk it is also now sold in several major supermarkets.

If you can't get hold of these ingredients then you can substitute 100g/4 ounces small cooked shrimp (salad shrimp) for the dried ones. Thaw them first if they are frozen. For the cooking wine you can substitute a dry sherry, such as an aged Manazilla or an Amontillado or Oloroso (not a cream sherry which is a sweetened Oloroso).