Spicy Szechuan Noodles Recipe 475

Steps:

• Heat a wok or heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the peppercorns and stir-fry for about 5 minutes until they brown slightly and start to smoke. Remove them from the heat and allow them to cool, then grind them. Set aside.
• Combine the pork, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of the salt and mix well. Heat a wok or skillet, add the oil and when the oil is hot, deep-fry the pork, stirring it with a spatula to break up the pieces. When the pork is crispy, about four minutes, remove it with a slotted spoon and drain it on paper towels.
• Pour off all but two tablespoons of the oil. Put a pot containing 3 to 4 quarts of water on the stove and bring to a boil.
• Reheat the wok with the remaining oil and stir-fry the garlic, ginger and scallions for 30 seconds, then add the sesame paste, the remaining soy sauce and salt, the chili oil and chicken stock. Simmer for four minutes. Return the pork to the pan and stir.
• Cook the noodles in the boiling water two minutes if they are fresh, five minutes if they are dried (if using spaghetti, cook according to package directions). Drain in a colander. Transfer them to a serving bowl or individual bowls. Ladle on the sauce and top with the fried pork mixture. Sprinkle with the ground Sichuan peppercorns and serve.

Steps:

• Place the garlic and ginger in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the vegetable oil, tahini, peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry, sherry vinegar, honey, chili oil, sesame oil, and ground peppers. Puree the sauce.
• Add a splash of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook the spaghetti al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander, place it in a large bowl, and while still warm, toss with 3/4 of the sauce. Add the red and yellow bell peppers and scallions; toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature. The remaining sauce may be added, as needed, to moisten the pasta.

Steps:

• Cook noodles as directed on the package. Drain.
• Mix all remaining ingredients together until well mixed. It may help to heat for a minute in the microwave.
• Mix noodles and sauce.
• Serve warm, but these also taste great cold.

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions, drain and rinse with cold water.
• Set in a large mixing bowl.
• Add remaining ingredients to noodles and toss well.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• This salad can be made a few days ahead of serving time.

Steps:

• Brown ground beef in a large skillet, stirring until it crumbles; drain and keep warm.
• Pour sesame oil in pan and heat till hot. Saute onion and next 4 ingredients hot sesame oil until tender.
• Combine cornstarch and beef broth, whisking until smooth.
• Stir broth mixture, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce into onion mixture.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; boil, stirring constantly, 1 minute.
• Stir in ground beef.
• Toss with hot cooked pasta, and sprinkle with sliced green onions.
• Yield: 4 servings.