mom’s beef noodle soup

replica #003 — chengdu, september 2010. my mom's beef noodle soup, braised the sichuan way with pixian bean paste and a cube of hot pot paste. comfort food that tastes like home. for two.

the beef

ingredients

• 500 g fresh beef, cut into big pieces

• 1 green onion

• 1/2 cube of ginger

method

1. rinse the beef in water, then transfer it to a pot of cold water with the green onion and ginger.

2. bring to a boil. use a skimmer to remove the fat and foam that floats up.

3. cook over medium heat for 5 more minutes, then drain and set the beef aside.

the braise

ingredients

• 2 green onions, finely chopped

• 1/2 cube of ginger, finely diced

• 12 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil

• 1 tbsp pixian bean paste (doubanjiang)

• 1 small cube hot pot paste

• 3 cubes crystal (rock) sugar

• the herb mix: 2 bay leaves, 1 star anise, 1 cardamom pod, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp sichuan pepper

• 1 tbsp rice vinegar

• 1 tbsp light soy sauce

• 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce

• 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce

• salt to taste (optional)

method

1. sauté the green onion, ginger and garlic in sunflower oil over medium heat until fragrant.

2. add the pixian bean paste, the hot pot paste cube, the herb mix and the crystal sugar. cook over medium-low heat until softened and fragrant.

3. add the beef and stir-fry until coated. add the rice vinegar, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and oyster sauce; stir-fry until well mixed and fragrant. add hot water to cover the beef.

4. cover the pot and simmer over low heat for 3–4 hours, until the beef is tender. fish out the solids and keep the beef and its broth.

the bowl

ingredients

• 200 g dry noodles of your choice

• fresh leafy greens of your choice

• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1 green onion, finely chopped

• 2 tbsp light soy sauce

• 2 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tbsp cilantro leaves (optional)

• salt to taste (optional)

method

1. cook the noodles and the greens in boiling water until done.

2. put the chopped garlic, green onion, sesame oil and soy sauce in a bowl. top with the cilantro and a ladle of noodle water.

3. add the noodles, the greens and the braised beef with its broth to the bowl and stir everything together.

the step-by-step photos are on the replica project page.