Indulge in a culinary journey with the delectable "Ants in Trees" dish, a creation of the renowned chef Alton Brown. This unique and playful dish combines the flavors of phyllo dough, savory ground beef, and a tangy sauce to create an appetizer or main course that is sure to impress. Our comprehensive guide provides two variations of this dish: the classic "Ants in Trees" recipe and a vegetarian alternative called "Grasshoppers in Trees." Both recipes offer step-by-step instructions, cooking tips, and beautiful photographs to ensure success in your kitchen. Embrace your adventurous side and embark on a culinary adventure with "Ants in Trees," a dish that will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
ANTS ON A TREE
Steps:
- Heat a pan with some oil over medium heat. Add the pork and garlic to the pan and cook until the flavor permeates and the pork browns. Then turn the heat to medium-high, add the cabbage and carrots, and stir-fry until the vegetables soften. Next, add the noodles, soy sauce, onions, sugar, ginger and pepper, and continue to stir-fry until all of the ingredients are mixed and the entire dish is coated with soy sauce. You will know when it is done is when the whole dish is steaming hot, light brown and the noodles are transparent with a shiny glaze.
- To assemble, use cooking tongs to hold and twist the stir-fry and transfer on to a platter.
ANTS IN TREES
Provided by Alton Brown
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Soak the noodles in enough hot water to cover by 1 inch for 20 minutes. Use kitchen shears to cut the noodles into 3 to 4-inch pieces and drain thoroughly in a colander for 10 minutes.
- Combine the soy sauce, rice wine, and chili paste in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the cornstarch and whisk until combined. Add the pork and mix until thoroughly integrated. Set aside for 30 minutes.
- Place a 12-inch saute pan over high heat for 1 minute. Add the oil and swirl to coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Once the oil shimmers, add the meat mixture. Stir constantly for 2 minutes, breaking the meat up into very small pieces. Add 2/3 of the green onions and continue cooking and stirring until the meat is well browned and in very small pieces, approximately 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-high and add the broth. Cook until reduced, approximately 3 minutes.
- Slowly add handfuls of the noodles to the pan, tossing with the meat mixture until combined and the pieces of meat cling to the noodles and no liquid remains. Serve immediately with the remaining green onions.
PORK & CRAB 'ANTS CLIMBING TREES'
Make this delicious Sichuan snack made with pork and crab - its name comes from the minced pork that resembles ants climbing trees.
Provided by Ching-He Huang
Categories Dinner
Time 20m
Yield Serves 2 or 4 to share
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat a wok over high heat and add the rapeseed oil. Stir-fry the garlic, ginger and red chilli for a few seconds, then add the pork mince and stir fry for 2-3 mins until the meat is browned at the edges. Add the rice wine or sherry, season with the dark soy sauce and chilli bean sauce, and mix well. Add the hot stock and bring to a bubble, then tip in the noodles and stir well - keep stirring until all the noodles are coated in the sauce and are a dark brown colour.
- Add the crabmeat, gently stir in, and season with toasted sesame oil. Finally, sprinkle in the spring onions, toss well and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 390 calories, Fat 14 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 45 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 1 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 20 grams protein, Sodium 2 milligram of sodium
ANTS ON A TREE
Steps:
- Marinate the pork:
- In a small bowl combine the pork gently with the vinegar, the soy sauce, and the sesame oil and let it marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- In a bowl soak the noodles in warm water to cover for 15 minutes, drain them, and cut them into 3- to 4-inch lengths.
- In a wok or large heavy skillet heat the vegetable oil over moderately high heat until it just begins to smoke and in it stir-fry 1/4 cup of the scallion, the garlic, and the gingerroot for 30 seconds. Add the pork and the chili paste and stir-fry the mixture, breaking up the lumps, until the meat is no longer pink. Add the noodles, the broth, the Scotch, the soy sauce, the vinegar, and the sugar and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the noodles have absorbed the liquid. Transfer the mixture to a platter, drizzle it with the sesame oil, and sprinkle it with the coriander and the remaining 1/4 cup scallion.
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 fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your Ants in Trees dessert.
- Don't overcook the pudding. It should be thick and creamy, but not rubbery.
- Let the pudding cool completely before assembling the dessert. This will help the pudding to set properly.
- Use a variety of cookies. This will add different flavors and textures to the dessert.
- Be creative with your toppings. You can use whipped cream, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or even fresh fruit.
Conclusion:
Ants in Trees is a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It's a great way to use up leftover cookies, and it's always a hit with kids and adults alike. So next time you're looking for a fun and festive dessert, give Ants in Trees a try.
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