The unusually named Sichuan dish known as ants climbing a tree consists of glass noodles in a flavorful sauce with ground pork. The name is derived from the visual appearance of the dish, where the glass noodles represent tree branches, the chopped green onions represent leaves, and bits of ground pork represent the ants.
As glass noodles soak up the sauce quite quickly, it is recommended to add a bit more of the stock or soy sauce to the dish, according to personal preference. In Sichuan, cooks often like to add chopped fresh or dried chili into the dish, while in other parts of China and in Taiwan, the dish is not quite as spicy due to the usage of mild bean sauces.
Chinese Ants Climbing a Tree (蚂蚁上树 – Mǎyǐ shàng shù)
Course: MainCuisine: ChineseDifficulty: Medium2
servings20
minutes15
minutes1235
kcal35
minutesThe unusually named Sichuan dish known as ants climbing a tree consists of glass noodles in a flavorful sauce with ground pork. The name is derived from the visual appearance of the dish, where the glass noodles represent tree branches, the chopped green onions represent leaves, and bits of ground pork represent the ants.
Ingredients
100g glass noodles (dry weight)
120g pork belly
1 tsp Szechuan chili oil
1 tablespoon cooking oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 thumb-sized ginger, minced
2 red chili, remove the seed
2 stalks of scallion, cut into thin rings
1 tbsp (20g) chili bean paste
2 tbsp (30 ml) light soy sauce
1 tsp (5ml) dark soy sauce
1 tsp (5g) sugar
1 tsp (5g) salt
Water (or stock) 125ml (half cup)
Directions
- Soak the glass noodles in hot water for fifteen minutes. ants climbing a tree – glass noodles
- Loosen the noodles and drain. Chinese vegetable soup – strain
- Mince the meat and set aside. ants climbing a tree – pork
- Coarsely mince the garlic, ginger, and chili. ants climbing a tree – chili
- Cut the scallion into thin rings. ants climbing a tree – scallions
- Place the minced pork to the pan and stir-fry to render the lard.ants climbing a tree – stir fry pork
- Once the pork becomes fragrant, add the garlic, ginger, chili., chili bean paste and chili oil,light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, salt, sugar. Turn down the heat and stir-fry until the chili oil begins to separate from the bean paste. ants climbing a tree – add seasonings
- Add the water (or stock). ants climbing a tree – water
- Add the glass noodles and let it absorb the sauce. Stir-fry over medium heat for half a minute until the glass noodles are cooked and soft. ants climbing a tree – add noodles
- Finally, add the scallions. Have a few quick stir.
