It's a hot sultry summer's evening and I want something cool but with heat and chili flavours attached. What could be better than a bowl of cold Chengdu noodles?
Now not surprisingly, few in the west have tried their noodles cold - at least not deliberately. Well we're missing out on a fabulous treat - I can guarantee it!
Chengdu is the capital of the Sizhuan Province of China, famed for its blisteringly hot chillies - delicious!
Ingredients
500 g fresh wheat-flour noodles, boiled, drained and chilled
75g bean sprouts, blanched for a few seconds and chilled
a few slices of cold roast pork, chopped into small pieces
1 spring onion, finely sliced
Sauce:
2 tablespoons very finely chopped fresh ginger
2 tablespoons very finely chopped garlic
1 tablespoon sesame paste
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
teaspoons black rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon chilli oil (place 2 dried chillies and 2 tablespoons sichuan peppercorns in a jar of oil,store for up to 6 months)
This is a quick and easy dish to prepare, just requiring a little fore-planning and preparation.
Place the noodles in a pot of boiling water, cook according to instructions. Cool immediately in cold water, drain in a sieve and place in a covered bowl in the fridge, cooling for at least 3 hours. Next blanch the bean sprouts for a few seconds, cool in cold water and chill in the fridge.
Now combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, mixing well ensuring the sugar is dissolved thoroughly.
When ready to eat. pour the sauce over the cold noodles, mix in the chopped cold pork and finally add the bean sprouts, mixing carefully so as to not break them.
Divide amongst 4 bowls, sprinkle over the chopped spring onions and enjoy a truly delightful combination of cold food with a warm spicy sauce and the little nuggets of cold roast pork.
Simply sensational on a hot summer's evening, I can assure you !
Enjoy!
This looks really good! Must admit i've never had cold noodles but would like to tive it a try!
Posted by: Gourmet Butcher | 07/21/2010 at 09:12 AM
Mouthwatering! Love noodles of all kinds--and cold noodles in the summer are wonderful. Add some spice and I'm a happy puppy. :)
Posted by: Frank | 07/21/2010 at 12:47 PM
That sounds like the perfect post-roast summer leftover lunch. And so straight forward to make. There is something wonderful about the contrast between cold smooth noodles and hot hot chilli, it works so well to spritz up your taste buds. Combine that with the deep savoury-sweet nutty sauce and that must pack quite a punch in terms of flavour.
Posted by: The Grubworm | 07/21/2010 at 02:10 PM
This looks utterly perfect for packed lunches. Sure beats a cold sandwich! I need to pick up a jar of sesame paste the next time I'm in Chinatown.
Posted by: Su-Lin | 07/21/2010 at 08:17 PM
GM - it's well worth it, thanks for stopping by!
Frank, you'll be more than a happy puppy with this dish I promise!
GW - you've put it much better than I ever can!
Su-Lin, that's a great idea, I'd never thought of that!
Posted by: Paul | 07/21/2010 at 09:33 PM
It looks really good! cold noodles in the summer are wonderful
Posted by: libing | 09/18/2010 at 06:35 AM
Ooh. Sounds fab. Tried cold noodles with chili oil in China, mostly for breakfast. Really liked it. Am going to try this. Thanks!
Wen
Posted by: GoingWithMyGut | 09/19/2010 at 04:54 PM
Wen, you will really enjoy these, I haven ate these cold noodles so many times over the summer!
Posted by: paul | 09/19/2010 at 06:21 PM
oh my these look awesome...
Posted by: PukkaPaki | 04/02/2012 at 11:44 PM