Spicy Sichuan Noodles With Ground Pork

For this recipe, we prefer fresh Chinese noodles with a width between linguine and fettuccine. If you are using Asian sesame paste that has a pourable rather than spreadable consistency, use only 1 cup of chicken broth. Don't hesitate over this dish because of the list of ingredients. Just follow the all-important basic drill which streamlines all Chinese recipes. They always have several clusters of ingredients. You mix each of them together and end up with maybe three or four little bowls that will come together in literally minutes. First, read through the recipe. Then gather all the ingredients in one place. Mix together the different elements. Finally, when you are ready, cook. From The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2009: The Year's Best Recipes, Equipment Reviews, and Tastings (America's Test Kitchen, Brookline, MA, 2008). Copyright 2008 by the Editors at America's Test Kitchen.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 8  ounces ground pork
• 3  tablespoons soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons  chinese rice wine or 2  tablespoons dry sherry
•  pepper
• 2  tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1⁄4 cup  asian  sesame paste or 1⁄4 cup  smooth peanut butter
• 1  tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 -1 1⁄4 cup low sodium chicken broth (see head note above)
• 1  tablespoon  vegetable oil
• 6  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  tablespoon fresh ginger (minced or grated)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1  tablespoon  toasted sesame oil
• 1  lb  fresh Chinese noodles or 12  ounces  dried linguine
• 3  scallions, sliced thin on the bias
• 2  cups bean sprouts (optional)
• 1  tablespoon szechuan peppercorns, toasted and ground (optional)

Directions

1. Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large stockpot for the noodles.
2. Meanwhile, toss the pork with 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, rice wine, and a pinch of pepper to combine and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame paste, vinegar, and a pinch of pepper together until smooth, then whisk in the broth; set aside.
3. Heat the vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the pork mixture and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the pork is in small, well-browned bits, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth mixture, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the sesame oil; cover and set aside.
4. While the sauce simmers, stir the noodles into the boiling water and cook, stirring constantly, until the noodles are tender, about 4 minutes for fresh noodles or 10 minutes for dried linguine. Drain the noodles, divide them among individual bowls, then ladle a portion of the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the scallions, the bean sprouts and ground Szechuan peppercorns, if using, and serve.