Shanghai 'Zha Jiang' Noodles (炸醬麵)

When I came across the recipe of Zha Jiang Noodles (炸醬麵) on Almostbourdain, I said to myself, I’d make it one day. That “one day” had come eventually.

I often cook rice not noodles for dinners. After moving to Australia, I still try my best to keep the Chinese tradition and cook 3 dishes with one soup for dinner. If I’m not wrong, Ellie asked me twice on twitter, that if I still followed the Chinese tradition making 3 dishes. My answers were “yes” and “no”. I would try to, as long as I have time and energy. Honestly speaking, many things would get into my way so that I can’t keep this tradition. For an instance, my daughter needed to go out before 5:30pm the other day. Apart from the time constraint, cooking dinner that early was not my default mood. Then Ellie’s Zha Jiang noodles came up in my mind instantly. It’s a yummy quickie, good for meals at any time, for lunch, dinner or supper.

For making this dish, all you need is to get the “sweet bean sauce” with Shanghai noodles. Both of them are easily found at any Asian grocery stores. For the vegetables and minced pork, I think it’s not a problem for you at all.

Shanghai 'Zha Jiang' Noodles (炸醬麵) (Printable recipe)

Recipe adapted from Almostbourdain

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 500 g Shanghai noodle (I cooked 450 gm)
• 2 tbsp sweet bean sauce (more if you prefer stronger taste)
• 500 g minced pork (I added marinade, see below)
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1/2 cup water (I used Campbell’s salt-reduced chicken stock)
• 1 carrot, thinly shredded
• 1 cucumber, thinly shredded
• chopped spring onions for garnish

Marinade:

• 2 tsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp cornflour
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp Shaoxing wine
• pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Heat a wok or frying pan with oil. Add pork mince (Note: I mixed it with marinade for 15 minutes before stir frying.) and stir fry until brown. Add ginger and garlic and stir fry together with the pork mince until fragrant.
2. Add sweet bean sauce, dark soy sauce and mix until combined.
3. Add 1/2 cup of water/chicken stock, bring to a boil and then lower heat to a slow simmer until sauce is thicken. Add sugar to taste.
4. Cook the noodle according to packet instructions. Drain and put into four individual serving bowls.
5. Divide pork mince into 4 equal portions and pour on the noodle.
6. Sprinkle with chopped spring onions and garnish with shredded carrots and cucumber.
7. Serve immediately.