XO Sauce Noodles

I grew up eating lots and lots of noodles. I never got tired eating of it, in fact, they have become my most favorites! There are so many different kinds of delicious noodle dish out there but today, I'd like to share with you a version of Zha Jiang Mian (Chinese fried meat sauce noodles) that is quite versatile.. You can pick your own favorite type of noodle, vegetables, meat, and yet, it will still taste heavenly. All you need is a good jar of XO sauce and you're in good hands! So give it a try, and let me know what you think :)

Ingredients:

- 200 grams minced pork (can be substituted with chicken)

- 1 tbsp cooking oil

- 5 shallots, peeled & finely chopped

- 2 slices ginger, minced

- 4 cloves garlic, minced

- 6 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stalks removed; diced

- 1/2 cup water

- 50 grams baby bok choy (xiao bai cai, 小白菜)

- 50 grams bean sprouts

- 4 servings Udon noodles (can be substituted with any kind of noodles you like)

- 1 tbsp chopped green onions

Marinade (A):

- 3 tbsp XO Sauce

- 1/2 tsp dark soy sauce

- 1 tsp hoisin sauce

- 1 tsp Chinese wine (Hua Tiao/Shao Xing)

- 1/2 tbsp corn starch

- 1 tsp sesame oil

- a few dashes white pepper powder to taste

- 1/2 tsp sugar

Directions:

1. In a bowl, marinade minced meat with (A) for 10 minutes.

2. Heat oil in wok and add shallots & ginger; stir-fry until shallots are softened and fragrant. Add minced garlic and stir fry for 30 seconds.

3. Add diced mushrooms and marinated meat. Stir fry until the meat is cooked on the surface, breaking the mince to smaller pieces using a frying turner/spatula.

4. Add 1/2 cup water, simmer on low heat with lid on for about 5 minutes, or until the meat sauce liquid is reduced. Set aside the cooked minced meat topping.

5. In a pot of water with some cooking oil added, blanch baby boy choy and bean sprouts for about 20 seconds, followed by noodles according to timing indicated on packaging. Set aside.

6. Toss 1 serving of noodles with about 3 tbsp of meat sauce, adding some water used to cook the noodles to help bind the ingredients together if the noodles are too dry.

7. Transfer meat noodles to serving dish and top with blanched greens and green onions. Serve with a side condiment of XO sauce.