ZHA JIANG MIAN (炸酱面) | Fried Sauce Noodles

ground pork

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground turkey reduces fat content while still providing protein.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: low-sodium soy sauce

💰Cheaper: tamari

Low-sodium soy sauce reduces sodium intake without sacrificing flavor.

fermented soybean paste

🥗Healthier: miso paste

💰Cheaper: soy sauce

Miso paste offers a similar umami flavor with fewer calories.

sesame oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Olive oil is healthier while canola oil is more budget-friendly.

Slice carrots, chop cabbage, and slice Japanese cucumber for vegetable toppings.

Soak bean sprouts in boiling water.

Prepare aromatics by chopping garlic, ginger, and scallions.

For the sauce, use 8 tablespoons of preserved soy beans and 2.5 tablespoons of sweetened soybean paste.

Add a generous helping of black pepper, some sugar, and a pinch of MSG to the sauce mixture.

Fry the minced pork in a skillet with very little oil, allowing the meat to produce its own oil.

Add the chopped aromatics to the skillet and fry for about 1 minute until fragrant.

Incorporate the aromatics into the minced meat and continue frying until the meat is crispy.

Add the prepared sauce to the skillet and mix well, frying for another 1-2 minutes until the mixture is dry and crispy.

Add about 200 milliliters of water to the skillet, mix well, and let it simmer until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Serve the cooked noodles in bowls, adding the meat sauce on top, followed by the vegetable toppings.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens