1/4cuppickled radish(or mustard greens or your favorite pickles)
Cilantro leaves
Instructions
Garlic water: Combine the 2 cloves of minced garlic and 3 tablespoons of hot water in a small bowl. Set aside.
Master sauce: In a small pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat and add the green onion, ginger, and garlic. Saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds and cook for another 30 seconds. Add the Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, sugar, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and discard the aromatics and spices.
Sesame sauce: Slowly incorporate the garlic water into the sesame paste until smooth. Then add the remaining sauce ingredients.
Prepare noodles: Bring a pot of water to a boil. (1) If using the Cooked Noodle (You Mian), quickly rinse the noodles in the hot water to revive its texture and drain. (2) If using uncooked fresh ramen noodles, drizzle the sesame oil over the noodles and toss gently. Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook until al dente. (3) If using regular dried noodles, boil according to the instructions. Once done, drain the noodles and divide between 2 bowls.
Assemble: Add 2 tablespoons of the broth, 2 tablespoons of the sesame sauce, and 1 tablespoon of chili oil (if using) to each bowl. Garnish with the green onion, preserved vegetables of your choice, and cilantro leaves.
Toss everything together, then adjust the seasoning to taste by adding more sauce or broth. Enjoy hot or cold!
Storage
The noodles, sauce, and broth can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge separately for up to 3 days. Assemble them whenever you plan to serve.
Notes
The correct alkaline noodles are usually labeled as “Cooked Noodle”. See the blog post above for the package picture. You can also use fresh uncooked ramen noodles, which are thinner than the Chinese alkaline noodles. Regular dried wheat noodles work too if you cannot find alkaline noodles. The texture of the noodles will be different but the taste will still be good.
The recipe generates more broth than you need in this recipe. You can fridge or freeze them for future use.