SICHUAN SOUP NOODLES WITH GROUND PORK TOPPING (QINGTANG ZAJIANG MIAN)

Serves: 2

■ 3 tbsp (45 ml) Yibin yacai preserved vegetable

■ 1 tbsp (15 ml) cooking oil

■ 1 tbsp (15 ml) melted lard (or cooking oil)

■ 4 tsp (20 ml) light soy sauce

■ 1 tsp (5 ml) sesame oil

■ 4 tbsp (60 ml) thinly sliced scallion greens

■ 2 cups (500 ml) chicken stock

■ 10 oz (300 g) fresh or 7 oz (200 g) dried wheat-flour noodles

■ A good handful of leafy greens, perhaps spinach or choy sum Salt and ground white pepper

For the topping:

■ 6 tbsp (90 ml) cooking oil

■ 1 tbsp (15 ml) finely chopped ginger

■ 7 oz (200 g) ground pork

■ 1 tbsp (15 ml) Shaoxing wine

■ 2 tsp (10 ml) sweet flour sauce

■ 2 tsp (10 ml) light soy sauce

■ 1/4 tsp (1 ml) dark soy sauce

■ Salt

1. First make the topping: Heat the cooking oil in a seasoned wok over high heat. Add the ginger and stir-fry briefly until it smells wonderful, then add the pork and stir-fry until it changes colour, breaking the meat into small morsels with a wok scoop or spatula.

2. Splash in the Shaoxing wine. When the pork is lightly browned and smells delicious, tilt the wok and push the meat up one side so the oil pools in the base.

3. Add the sweet flour sauce to the pool of oil and stir-fry until you can smell it. Tilt the wok back and mix in the pork, then stir in both soy sauces and season with salt to taste. Set aside until needed.

4. Rinse the preserved vegetable and squeeze dry. In a small pan, heat the cooking oil and briefly stir-fry the preserved vegetable until fragrant.

5. Divide between two deep bowls, along with the lard, light soy sauce, sesame oil and scallion greens. Add a good pinch of pepper and salt to taste to each one.

6. Bring the stock to a boil and keep it warm. In another pan, boil the noodles to your liking. When they are nearly done, add the greens to the boiling water and let them wilt for a few seconds.

7. Divide the hot stock between the bowls, then drain the noodles and greens in a colander and divide between the bowls too. Spoon over the pork topping and serve. Mix everything together before eating.