CORINNE TRANG 

Called fen si, Chinese glass noodles, also referred to as cellophane or crystal noodles, are made of mung bean starch (please note: these are not at all the same as "rice vermicelli"). Opaque when raw, they become transparent when cooked. Though they have no flavor on their own, their ability to absorb flavor makes them popular in various types of dishes. Soaked until pliable, they are excellent in broth, stir-fried or braised with all sorts of vegetables and proteins. They a