Tantalize your taste buds with Ants Climbing a Tree, a classic Sichuanese dish that combines the delightful chewiness of vermicelli noodles with the fiery kick of Sichuan peppercorns. This tantalizing stir-fry boasts a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that will leave you craving for more.
The traditional Ants Climbing a Tree recipe features tender vermicelli noodles stir-fried with a medley of aromatic minced pork, crunchy wood ear mushrooms, and a splash of soy sauce, creating a harmonious balance of savory and spicy flavors. But this article expands on the classic, offering three variations that cater to diverse preferences.
For those seeking a vegetarian delight, the Vegetarian Ants Climbing a Tree recipe replaces minced pork with an assortment of colorful vegetables, including carrots, bell peppers, and shiitake mushrooms, resulting in a vibrant and flavorful stir-fry that is equally satisfying.
For those who prefer a seafood twist, the Ants Climbing a Tree with Seafood recipe incorporates succulent shrimp and squid, adding a briny sweetness to the dish that perfectly complements the spicy sauce.
And for those who enjoy a bit of heat, the Extra Spicy Ants Climbing a Tree recipe amps up the spiciness with additional Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, creating a fiery sensation that will ignite your taste buds.
No matter which recipe you choose, Ants Climbing a Tree is a delectable dish that embodies the essence of Sichuan cuisine. So, embark on a culinary adventure and experience the captivating flavors of this iconic stir-fry.
ANTS CLIMBING A TREE (MA YI SHANG SHU)
Ants Climbing a Tree (ma yi shang shu - 蚂蚁上树) is a classic Sichuan dish of glass noodles in a delicious sauce with ground pork. Our recipe is beyond easy.
Provided by Judy
Categories Noodles and Pasta
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Soak the dry noodles in cold water for 10 minutes. Rinse, drain and set aside. In a wok over medium heat, add the oil and minced ginger. Cook the ginger for about a minute, and add the spicy bean sauce. Let that cook for another minute, and then add the ground pork (or chicken). Stir-fry until the meat is cooked through.
- Add the chicken stock, sugar, dark soy sauce, and light soy sauce. Bring everything to boil. Once boiling, add the glass noodles and scallions. Quickly stir everything together for 1-2 minutes. Serve alone, or with steamed rice!
- Seriously. How easy was that?
Nutrition Facts : Calories 479 kcal, Carbohydrate 58 g, Protein 16 g, Fat 21 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Cholesterol 41 mg, Sodium 806 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving
ANTS CLIMBING A TREE (SICHUAN SPICY VERMICELLI STIR-FRY)
"Ants on a tree" is one of most well known Sichuan dishes. It is a combination of ground pork and mung bean vermicelli. In addition to that, we use Sichuan peppercorn powder, topped with fresh green onion, it is a very good main course for your dining table.
Provided by Tao,RN
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Chinese
Time 35m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place vermicelli in a bowl and cover with water; soak for at least 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until you can feel the heat above the pan. Put in ground pork; cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Stir in peppercorn powder until evenly distributed. Add water and bring to a boil.
- Add drained vermicelli and mix evenly with the pork. Cook until all water has evaporated, about 5 more minutes. Taste and add more soy sauce if not salty enough for you.
- Transfer to a serving plate and top with green onions.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 454.3 calories, Carbohydrate 60.8 g, Cholesterol 36.7 mg, Fat 18.4 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 10.3 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 488 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
ANTS CLIMBING A TREE
There are no insects in this Sichuan noodle dish; rather, the name Ants Climbing a Tree refers to the way the bits of pork cling to the noodles.
Provided by Diana Kuan
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl, soak the vermicelli in enough warm water to cover for 10 minutes. Drain, shake off excess water, and set aside.
- Rinse the black beans to remove any grit. In a small bowl, mash the black beans with the back of a spoon for about 20 seconds (it does not need to be a smooth paste).
- In a small bowl, stir together the soy. sauce, Sichuan chile oil, and sesame oil. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix 2 Tbsp. of the Chinese rice wine with the ground pork.
- Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat until a bead of water sizzles and evaporates on contact. Add the vegetable oil and swirl to coat the bottom. Add the pork and stir-fry, breaking up the pork with a spatula, until crispy and starting to brown but not yet dry, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, then add the scallion whites, garlic, ginger, and fermented black beans and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp. rice wine and use the spatula to scrape up any bits that might be stuck to the bottom of the pan.
- Add the stock, the drained noodles, and the Sichuan chili oil mixture. Simmer the noodles, tossing carefully with tongs so they get evenly cooked, until the broth is half absorbed, 3 to 4 minutes. (The vermicelli noodles will still absorb a lot of liquid post-cooking.) Transfer everything to a deep serving bowl, garnish with the scallion greens, and serve.
Tips:
- Use authentic Sichuan ingredients: If you want to achieve the authentic Sichuan flavor, it's important to use authentic ingredients such as Pixian Doubanjiang (Sichuan chili bean paste), Erjingtiao (Sichuan peppercorns), and aged Zhenjiang vinegar.
- Control the heat: Sichuan cuisine is known for its spiciness, but it's important to control the heat so that it doesn't overpower the other flavors in the dish. Use medium-high heat for most of the cooking process, and only increase it to high heat when stir-frying the vermicelli.
- Use fresh and high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly affect the final flavor of the dish. Use fresh and high-quality vegetables, meat, and spices.
- Don't overcrowd the wok: When stir-frying, it's important to not overcrowd the wok. This will prevent the ingredients from cooking evenly and will result in a soggy dish.
- Don't overcook the vermicelli: Vermicelli is a thin noodle that cooks very quickly. Be careful not to overcook it, or it will become mushy.
Conclusion:
Ants Climbing a Tree, also known as Sichuan Spicy Vermicelli Stir-Fry, is a delicious and flavorful dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. It is a perfect dish for a quick and easy weeknight meal, or for a special occasion. With its vibrant colors, bold flavors, and unique texture, Ants Climbing a Tree is a dish that is sure to impress.
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