Beijing Noodles With Meat Sauce Recipes

ZA JIANG MEIN (BEIJING-STYLE MEAT SAUCE WITH NOODLES)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in the wok. When the oil is ready, add the garlic and then the pork. Fry briefly.
• Blend the bean sauce with the beer.
• Add the mixed sauce, sprinkle the sugar into the wok and cook, stir until the sauce is piping hot (about 10 mins).
• Turn off the heat and start to boil the noodles, 1 min and remove.
• Drain the noodles thoroughly and place into a bowl.
• Spoon over the sauce. Garnish with the scallions, bean sprouts and cucumber shreds generously.

BEIJING NOODLES WITH MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir black bean sauce and sugar and rice wine together in a small bowl.
• Prepare scallions on a small plate, ready to add during stir-frying.
• Have sesame oil measured and ready.
• Put on a gallon of water to boil.
• Heat dry wok or large skillet over high heat. When hot, add peanut oil. Swirl in wok until hot but not smoking.
• If using garlic, add to oil and stir until fragrant.
• Add ground meat to wok, and stir-fry until well-separated and cooked but not browned.
• Add bean sauce and stir well.
• Add scallions and sesame oil, stir well.
• Remove wok from heat.
• Combine vinegar and chili oil in a serving bowl, to be sprinkled on individual servings at the table.
• Clean and chop cilantro to be used as a garnish.
• Once your water has reached a rolling boil, add spaghetti and cook until tender.
• Drain spaghetti, pour into bowl, top with meat sauce, stir together, and serve immediately.

BEIJING HOT NOODLES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a wok or heavy, deep sauté pan over high heat for 1 minute. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the green onions and ground pork and cook until the pork is browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground bean sauce, tofu, chile oil, salt, and sugar and toss to coat, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes more. Add the sesame oil and pepper, stir, and turn off the heat.
• Divide the lo mein noodles among individual plates, place the cucumber alongside, and top the noodles with the pork and tofu mixture. Serve immediately.

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).

NOODLES WITH HOT MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a wok and add half of the oil. Add half of the pork and cook quickly over high heat, stirring and chopping down to break up any lumps. Cook only until the pork loses its raw look.
• Add two-thirds cup of the brown bean sauce and half of the chili paste with garlic. Cook, stirring rapidly, about one or two minutes. Add half of the sugar and half of the Sherry, and cook one minute longer over high heat.
• Turn the mixture into a four-quart casserole.
• Rinse and wipe out the wok, and repeat the procedure using the remaining half of the corn oil, pork, brown bean sauce, chili paste with garlic, sugar and wine. Add the second batch to the first. Let stand to room temperature. Refrigerate for up to three days (or the mixture may be frozen in small batches up to a month or longer).
• When ready to serve, bring to room temperature. Reheat the sauce gently. Twenty minutes before serving, bring a large kettle of water to the boil. Add the noodles and cook four minutes.
• Drain the noodles and cut them into shreds of manageable length. Pour the noodles into a heated, heatproof serving dish.
• Add the scallions to the simmering sauce and stir. Pour the sauce over the hot noodles and toss to blend. Serve with the three garnishes, letting each guest help him or herself.