SPICY SICHUAN NOODLES (DAN DAN MIAN)

Servings: 4
Ingredients:

1/2 lb Ground pork
1 tb Dark soy sauce
1 ts Salt
1 c  Peanut oil
3/4 lb Chinese thin egg noodles
-(fresh or dry)
3 tb Finely chopped garlic
2 tb Finely chopped ginger
5 tb Finely chopped scallions
2 tb Sesame paste
-=OR=- peanut butter
2 tb Dark soy sauce
2 tb Chili oil
2 ts Salt
1 c  Chicken stock
1 tb Sichuan peppercorns
-(roasted and ground)

COMBINE THE PORK, SOY SAUCE and salt in a small bowl and mix well. Heat a
wok or saute pan until it is hot. Add the oil and deep-fry the pork,
stirring with a spatula to break it into small pieces. When the pork is
crispy and dry, about 4 minutes, remove it with a slotted spoon and drain
on paper towels. Pour off the oil, leaving 2 tablespoons in the wok. Reheat
the wok and add the garlic, ginger and scallions, and stir-fry for 30
seconds. Then add the sesame paste, soy sauce, chili oil, salt and chicken
stock and simmer for 4 minutes. Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling
water for 2 minutes if they are fresh or 5 minutes if they are dried. Drain
the noodles well in a colander. Divide them into individual bowls or put in
large soup tureen. Ladle on the sauce.

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