Ants Climbing Trees

This dish probably rates the highest on our family repeats list, it’s so simple and tasty.  The name comes from the cooked pieces of pork mince looking like ants climbing the noodle ‘branches’.  This is a Jill Dupleix recipe, but you’ll find a heap of different versions on the net.  I usually leave the fresh chilli out for the boy and add some more chilli sauce or fresh chilli at the table.  It’s even better beefed up with more finely chopped veg such as bok choi, mushrooms, corn, or whatever else is on hand.  I always make double the recipe as it’s great for leftovers.

Ingredients

200g minced pork or beef

3 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp Chinese rice wine

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp cornflour

1 tbsp chilli bean sauce (douban jiang), or chilli sauce

100g transparent glass noodles

3 tbsp vegetable oil

1 small red chilli

2 celery stalks, finely sliced

2 spring onions, finely chopped

125ml chicken stock or water

1 tsp sesame oil for serving

1 extra spring onion, finely chopped

Method

Mix minced pork with two tablespoons of the soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, cornflour and chilli bean sauce and leave for at least 15 minutes.

Cover the noodles with boiling water for about seven minutes or until soft, then drain and cut into shorter lengths with scissors. Heat the wok and add the oil. When hot, add the fresh chilli, celery and spring onions, tossing well, then the pork and its marinade, stirring well.

When the meat has browned, add the noodles and toss well over medium heat.

Add the remaining soy and chicken stock (or water) and simmer until the liquid has been absorbed. Turn out onto a warm serving platter, drizzle with sesame oil and scatter with chopped spring onions.

Serves 2