Dan Dan Mein (spicy Szechuan Noodles)

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 12 cloves garlic
• 3 inches fresh ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons water
• 6 green onions
• 1 lb fresh chinese noodles
• 2 teaspoons hot chili oil
• 1/8 teaspoon ground roasted szechuan peppercorns
• 4 teaspoons asian toasted sesame paste
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup hot red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup peanut oil

Recipe

• 1 crush the garlic cloves with the side of a cleaver, then peel and chop coarsely.
• 2 peel the ginger, then dice finely.
• 3 place the garlic and ginger into a mortar, add salt, then pulverize with a pestle.
• 4 add the water to the mashed garlic and ginger mixture, stir until well combined, and set aside.
• 5 chop the green onions very finely, then measure – you will need 4 tablespoons in total.
• 6 in each of four small bowls, place 1 tablespoon of the garlic-ginger-water mixture, 1 tablespoon of chopped green onions, 2 teaspoons hot chili oil, 1/8 teaspoon ground roasted szechuan peppercorns, 4 teaspoons asian roasted sesame paste, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and ½ teaspoon sugar, and mix well.
• 7 bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil and cook the noodles according to the directions on the package, until al dente (fresh chinese noodles usually take from 5 to 10 minutes – don’t overcook).
• 8 drain, and divide the steaming hot noodles between four plates.
• 9 each person individually mixes his sauce ingredients together with his noodles.
• 10 for the chili oil: heat the oil until it is just beginning to smoke.
• 11 remove from heat, add the hot red pepper flakes, and stir.
• 12 the mixture will foam, and will smell very strong!
• 13 it can be kept for months under refrigeration.