Chicken Black Bean Garlic Noodles
A Quick Asian Inspired Dish Suitable for Family or Dinner Party
Jun 8, 2008
This random act of cooking resulted from an indiscriminate love of all foods Asian. This dish works well for an Asian-themed dinner party, but even with a few exotic ingredients can be enjoyed by the whole family when another casserole just won’t do. You can also prepare ahead of time and eat chilled for lunch at the office. For a complete experience, host a sake tasting party and serve this quick dish as your main course.
Chicken Black Bean Garlic Sauce Noodles
Ingredients
- 1- 7.5 oz package Ka-Me Sai Fun bean thread noodles
- 2 Tbsp wok oil
- 1 lb cubed boneless skinless organic chicken breast
- 6-8 oz sliced fresh shitake mushrooms (substitute dehydrated mushrooms)
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 3 oz sprouted beans (a mix of Chinese red beans, green peas, and lentils)
- ¾ cup water
- 2 Tbsp Sun Luck Chinese style black bean garlic sauce
- 1 bunch chopped Thai basil (substitute conventional basil)
- 1-2 tsp cornstarch to thicken
Method
- Soak 2 bean thread noodle nests in warm water for 10-15 minutes while cooking remaining ingredients in a wok or large skillet on medium heat. Use three noodle nests to serve six.
- Brown chicken cubes in oil. After about 5 minutes, or when chicken is partially cooked, add mushrooms and garlic and sauté until chicken is thoroughly cooked and mushrooms soft. If substituting dry mushrooms, soak in water for a few hours beforehand- but fresh is really best.
- Add 3 oz sprouted beans, ¾ cup water and 2 Tbsp black bean garlic sauce and simmer 2 minutes to preserve bean crunch.
- A mix of Chinese red beans, green peas, and lentils such as Sprouters 3 Bean Munchies is best, but substitute a single bean type in a pinch.
- Add more water and cook a few minutes longer for softer bean sprouts. Slowly add just enough cornstarch to thicken.
- Toss in bean noodles and cook 3 minutes until soft and translucent with most of the sauce absorbed.
- Garnish with Thai basil, adding just before removing from wok or stove.
Accompaniments
Set out a bowl of spicy Japanese rice crackers for an appetizer. Serve with hot black tea, accompanied by white jasmine rice garnished with toasted sesame seeds and crumbled Emerald Cove Spicy Nori Snack, and Eden Selected Umebushi Pickled Ume Plums. Taste is improved by self-conscious use of chopsticks.
Finish with a round of sake served in traditional ceramic ware. Savored like a fine wine, sake quality varies with the brewer. Premium sake (nihonshu) is served cool, not warm. If you are hosting a party, visit an online sake shop, purchase a few varieties, and hold a sake sipping for an entertaining and educational night your friends will never forget.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cooking Time: 20 minutes
- Serves: 4-6
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