Beijing Noodles Food

ZHA JIANG MIAN (炸酱面)

Steps:

• In a bowl, dilute dry yellow soybean paste and sweet bean sauce (or hoisin sauce) with water. Set aside.
• Heat up oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add star anise, spring onion (the green part) and ginger. Leave to sizzle until fragrant. Stir in pork and rice wine. Cook until the pork becomes pale.
• Pour in the diluted sauce. Bring it to a boil then leave to simmer for 20 minutes.
• Then boil on full heat to thicken the sauce to the desired consistency. Stir in the white part of the scallions.
• Blanch beansprouts and green soybeans in boiling water (cucumber and radish are served raw). Take them out then drain.
• In the same pot, cook noodles. Drain and rinse under cold water for a few seconds.
• Place the noodles in 4 serving bowls. Top with the sauce and vegetables.

PEKING-STYLE NOODLES

Steps:

• If you are using fresh noodles, blanch them first for 3-5 minutes in boiling water. If you are using dried noodles, cook them in boiling water according to packet instructions.
• Plunge them in cold water, drain thoroughly, toss them in the sesame oil and set aside until you are ready to use them. Covered with cling film, they can be kept for up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Heat a wok or large frying pan until hot. Add the groundnut oil and, when it is very hot, add the garlic, ginger and spring onions. Stir fry for 15 seconds, then add the pork. Stir well to break up and stir fry for 2 minutes or more until the pork loses its pink colour.
• Add the rest of the ingredients except the spring onion garnish, stirring all the time. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down low and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Plunge the noodles into boiling water for 30 seconds or until they are just heated through, then drain well in a colander or sieve. Quickly tip the noodles into a large bowl and pour the hot sauce over the top. Mix everything together loosely then sprinkle on the spring onions and serve.

BEIJING NOODLES

Steps:

• Place the dried shiitake in a bowl, add the boiling water, and set aside to soften for about 15 minutes. With a box grater or in a food processor, coarsely grate the tofu. Slice the moonlight mushrooms, mince or press the garlic, and chop the onion. Bring a large covered pot of salted water to a boil for cooking the pasta.
• In a large skillet on medium heat, warm the oil and sauté the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper for about 7 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Stir in the sliced mushrooms and grated tofu and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms begin to release their juices.
• Meanwhile, remove the softened shiitake from the bowl. If there are large stems, cut them off and discard. Slice the caps and add to the skillet. Add 3/4 cup of the shiitake soaking liquid (pour the liquid with care so that any gritty residue is left behind in the bowl). Add the sweet bean sauce and the vinegar and stir occasionally until the sauce is hot, about 5 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add a little water.
• While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta until al dente and prepare the toppings; we like to serve the toppings at the table in separate bowls so that diners can choose their own. Drain the pasta.
• Serve Beijing Noodles in individual bowls: a helping of noodles topped with some sauce, and then the toppings.
• Ingredient Notes
• Look for Chinese sweet bean sauce in Asian markets. It usually comes in 6- or 16-ounce cans. Leftover sauce can be stored in a jar in the refrigerator for several months.
• Stir some Chinese chili paste into the sauce.
• Stir a few drops of dark sesame oil into the noodles.
• Serving & menu idea
• If you want a simple dessert, try the Orange Vanilla Shake (page 281).