Tan Tan Noodles
 
Ingredients
  • 4 cups Mock beef broth (see below)
  • 1 pound fresh noodles
  • 1 pound ground beef or pork
  • ¼ cup garlic, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh ginger, chopped
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • ½ cup sesame paste (see note)
  • ⅓ cup Chinese hot chili sauce
  • 4-6 tablespoons peanuts, chopped
Mock broth
  • 32 ounces beef bouillon
  • 2 pieces star anise
  • ¼ teaspoon Szechwan peppercorns
  • 2-3 green onions cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons bean sauce
  • 1-2 slices of fresh ginger
  • ¼ cup rice wine or dry sherry
Instructions
  1. Begin by preparing the mock broth. Place the bouillon along with all the other broth ingredients into a sauce pan and heat until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the ginger, anise, and green onions. Set aside. Chop the garlic, ginger, green onions and peanuts and set aside. Heat the oil in a wok and add the garlic and ginger, give a quick stir, then add the ground meat and continue to cook until it is well browned. Be careful not to let the garlic burn. When the meat is sufficiently browned, lower heat to low and add soy sauce, green onions, chili sauce and sesame paste. Continue to stir until all ingredients are combined and heated through. Remove from heat. Cook noodles according to directions on the package. Drain but do not rinse. Divide the noodle between 4-6 bowls. Divide the meat evenly and place some in each bowl. Pour the desired amount of broth over each bowl (usually ½ to 1 cup of broth depending on how you like it). Top each bowl with a spoonful of chopped peanuts and you are ready to serve.
  2. *Note. Sesame paste is found in Asian markets. There are two different kinds so make sure to use the lighter colored one. You could also substitute tahini sauce or even peanut butter for a distinctly different flavor.
Recipe by Have You Eaten, SF? at https://haveyoueatensf.com/tan-tan-noodles/