Noodles with Pork Soy Sauce (Zha-Jiang Style)

Ingredients

• ground pork — 200 g
• fresh noodles — 400 g (4 portions)
• cucumber — 1, cut into thin shreds
• sweet bean sauce (tianmianjiang) — 3 tbsp
• soy sauce — 1 tbsp
• sugar — 1 tsp
• cooking oil — 2 tbsp
• scallions — 2 stalks, chopped

Steps (beginner-friendly)

1. Start a large pot of water boiling for the noodles.
2. Shred the cucumber into thin matchsticks (a julienne peeler makes this easy) and set aside.
3. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add ground pork and stir, breaking it into small crumbles, for 3 minutes until browned and no pink remains.
4. Add 3 tbsp sweet bean sauce, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Stir well.
5. Simmer on low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce darkens, thickens, and oil floats to the surface in small pools.
6. While the sauce simmers, cook the noodles in the boiling water for 3-4 minutes until just tender. Drain and rinse briefly under warm water so they don't stick.
7. Divide noodles into bowls, spoon a generous amount of pork sauce on top, add cucumber shreds and scallions.
8. Mix everything well before eating.