Ingredients

4 oz. thin dried wheat noodles

3 strips thick-cut bacon, cut into 1" pieces

4 green onions, cut into 1” pieces, plus more for topping

4 large cloves garlic, halved

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. cumin seeds

1/2 tsp. fennel seeds

1/4 tsp. ground white pepper

1/4 tsp. smoked paprika

Pinch MSG (optional)

Sriracha, for serving

Kewpie mayo, for serving

Toasted sesame seeds, for serving

Preparation

Step 1In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles to al dente, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.Step 2In a large skillet over medium heat, add cooked noodles and stir until residual water is mostly evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes.Step 3Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until fat is mostly rendered, 2 to 3 minutes. Add green onions and garlic and stir until fragrant and slightly softened, 2 minutes. Step 4Add pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin, fennel, paprika, and MSG (if using) and stir to toast spices, 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking until noodles are golden and crispy, about 6 minutes.Step 5Top with squiggles of Sriracha and mayo and sprinkle with sesame seeds and more green onions before serving.

Get any variety of dried wheat noodle—you can use soba for a more whole-grain vibe or shoot straight for white flour ones like I did—and boil it until just al dente. Drain and transfer them to a dry pan to evaporate off any remaining water, then plop in your bacon and let it render so that the fat begins to coat the noodles and fry them into golden, crunchy bits of goodness. The skinnier your noodle, the crunchier and more snack-like your end result will be. Keep a close eye on your heat levels to achieve that perfect balance of crisping and toasting without burning. Lower the heat if ever the noodles start to turn too brown: slow and steady wins the race. Top with some Kewpie mayo (the best in the game) and Sriracha, some nutty toasted sesame seeds and some crunchy green onions and you are set for a snacky delight. For another snacky delight, I highly recommend checking out these sweet potato grilled cheese bites—they’re especially perfect if you are on a gluten-free diet!