Best Jia Jiang Mian Recipes

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.

BEIJING "FRIED SAUCE" NOODLES - ZHA JIANG MIAN

Steps:

• Marinate the pork with the following for 15 minutes: ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon oil, 1/8 teaspoon white pepper.
• Heat a tablespoon oil in your wok over medium heat and add the pork fat (if using). Cook for 1 minute to render the fat down, and add the marinated ground pork to the wok. Cook for a minute to brown it, and then add the ginger, garlic, and mushrooms. Stir fry everything together for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the sweet bean sauce, ground bean sauce, dark soy sauce, and water, stirring everything together well. Lower the heat and cover the wok. Simmer the sauce for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• While that's happening, cook the noodles according to the package directions. Mix with the sauce and toss with the julienned carrots, cucumbers, and scallions. This amount of sauce should be good for 4 servings.

1-HOUR NOODLES (ZHA JIANG MIAN) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a medium pan, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, the ginger, and shallot and sauté until lightly aromatic, 1-2 minutes. Add the ground pork to the pan and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown, 3-5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small pan, heat another tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-low heat. Add the soy bean paste and sweet bean sauce and cook until caramelized, 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn.
• Add the caramelized bean paste mixture to the ground pork mixture and stir to combine. Add the soy sauce and cook for another 30 seconds to incorporate. Add the cornstarch slurry, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes, adding a few tablespoons of water at a time as needed to keep the mixture at a simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat a small pan over low heat. Add the remaining teaspoon of vegetable oil, then pour in the egg and tilt the pan to spread in a thin layer. Cook until the top is just set, then remove the egg crepe from the pan. Let cool, then thinly slice.
• Cook the noodles according to the package instructions, then drain.
• Place the cooked noodles in a serving bowl and top with the ground pork mixture. Garnish with the egg crepe strips, cucumber, cilantro, and remaining teaspoon of minced garlic.
• Enjoy!