Spicy Sichuan Noodles with Shiitake Mushrooms
By America's Test KitchenPublished on August 22, 2007
Time
1¼ hours
Yield
Serves 4 as a main course
Ingredients
8 dried shitake mushrooms (small)8 ounces ground pork 3 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherryground white pepper 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 4 tablespoons Asian sesame paste or peanut butter1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 - 1 ¼ cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth (see note)1 tablespoon peanut oil 1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 12 ounces dried Asian noodles or 1 pound fresh Asian noodles (width between linguine and fettuccine) or 12 ounces linguine3 medium scallions, sliced thin (about ⅓ cup)2 cups bean sprouts (about 6 ounces) (optional)1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns, toasted in small dry skillet until fragrant, then ground (optional)
Before You Begin
If you cannot find Asian noodles, linguine may be substituted. If you are using natural peanut butter or Asian sesame paste that has a pourable rather than spreadable consistency, use only 1 cup of chicken stock. Also note that the amount of sauce will coat 1 pound of fresh noodles but only 12 ounces of dried noodles, which bulk up during boiling.
Instructions
- Soak shiitake mushrooms in 1 cup boiling water until softened, 15 to 20 minutes; drain, reserving 1/2 cup soaking liquid. Trim and discard stems; cut mushrooms into 1/4-inch slices and set aside.
- Combine pork, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sherry, and pinch white pepper in small bowl; stir well with fork and set aside while preparing other ingredients. Whisk together oyster sauce, remaining soy sauce, peanut butter or sesame paste, vinegar, and pinch white pepper in medium bowl. Whisk in chicken stock and reserved mushroom liquid and set aside.
- Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large stockpot over high heat.
- Meanwhile, heat 12-inch skillet over high heat until hot, about 2 minutes. Add peanut oil and swirl to coat pan bottom. Add pork and cook, scraping along pan bottom and breaking up pork into small pieces with wide metal or wooden spatula, until pork is in small well-browned bits, about 5 minutes. Stir in ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add peanut butter/mushroom liquid mixture; bring to boil, whisking to combine, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer to blend flavors, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Stir in shiitake mushrooms along with sesame oil.
- While sauce simmers, add noodles to boiling water and cook until tender (refer to package directions, but use them only as a guideline and be sure to taste for doneness). Drain noodles; divide noodles among individual bowls, ladle a portion of sauce over noodles, sprinkle with scallions, bean sprouts, and ground Sichuan peppercorns, if using; serve immediately.
Time
1¼ hoursYield
Serves 4 as a main courseIngredients
8 dried shitake mushrooms (small)
8 ounces ground pork
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
ground white pepper
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
4 tablespoons Asian sesame paste or peanut butter
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 - 1 ¼ cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth (see note)
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
12 ounces dried Asian noodles or 1 pound fresh Asian noodles (width between linguine and fettuccine) or 12 ounces linguine
3 medium scallions, sliced thin (about ⅓ cup)
2 cups bean sprouts (about 6 ounces) (optional)
1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns, toasted in small dry skillet until fragrant, then ground (optional)
Ingredients
8 dried shitake mushrooms (small)
8 ounces ground pork
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
ground white pepper
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
4 tablespoons Asian sesame paste or peanut butter
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 - 1 ¼ cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth (see note)
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
12 ounces dried Asian noodles or 1 pound fresh Asian noodles (width between linguine and fettuccine) or 12 ounces linguine
3 medium scallions, sliced thin (about ⅓ cup)
2 cups bean sprouts (about 6 ounces) (optional)
1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns, toasted in small dry skillet until fragrant, then ground (optional)
Ingredients
8 dried shitake mushrooms (small)
8 ounces ground pork
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
ground white pepper
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
4 tablespoons Asian sesame paste or peanut butter
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 - 1 ¼ cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth (see note)
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
12 ounces dried Asian noodles or 1 pound fresh Asian noodles (width between linguine and fettuccine) or 12 ounces linguine
3 medium scallions, sliced thin (about ⅓ cup)
2 cups bean sprouts (about 6 ounces) (optional)
1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns, toasted in small dry skillet until fragrant, then ground (optional)
Why This Recipe Works
We wanted to create a dish inspired by dan dan mian, a popular Sichuan noodle dish with a spicy, savory sauce. Our sauce was simple to put together with pantry staples. Fresh or dried Asian noodles worked best in this recipe, but linguine was good in a pinch.
Before You Begin
If you cannot find Asian noodles, linguine may be substituted. If you are using natural peanut butter or Asian sesame paste that has a pourable rather than spreadable consistency, use only 1 cup of chicken stock. Also note that the amount of sauce will coat 1 pound of fresh noodles but only 12 ounces of dried noodles, which bulk up during boiling.
Instructions
- Soak shiitake mushrooms in 1 cup boiling water until softened, 15 to 20 minutes; drain, reserving 1/2 cup soaking liquid. Trim and discard stems; cut mushrooms into 1/4-inch slices and set aside.
- Combine pork, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sherry, and pinch white pepper in small bowl; stir well with fork and set aside while preparing other ingredients. Whisk together oyster sauce, remaining soy sauce, peanut butter or sesame paste, vinegar, and pinch white pepper in medium bowl. Whisk in chicken stock and reserved mushroom liquid and set aside.
- Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large stockpot over high heat.
- Meanwhile, heat 12-inch skillet over high heat until hot, about 2 minutes. Add peanut oil and swirl to coat pan bottom. Add pork and cook, scraping along pan bottom and breaking up pork into small pieces with wide metal or wooden spatula, until pork is in small well-browned bits, about 5 minutes. Stir in ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add peanut butter/mushroom liquid mixture; bring to boil, whisking to combine, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer to blend flavors, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Stir in shiitake mushrooms along with sesame oil.
- While sauce simmers, add noodles to boiling water and cook until tender (refer to package directions, but use them only as a guideline and be sure to taste for doneness). Drain noodles; divide noodles among individual bowls, ladle a portion of sauce over noodles, sprinkle with scallions, bean sprouts, and ground Sichuan peppercorns, if using; serve immediately.
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