Black Bean Sauce Noodles

Ingredients:

200 grams noodles
50 grams black bean paste
100 grams pork (optional)
1/2 onion
1/2 carrot
1 potato
1 cucumber
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cups water or broth

Instructions:

1. Cook the noodles according to package directions. Add a pinch of salt to the water for flavor.
2. Prepare the vegetables. Wash and dice the onion, carrot, and potato. Wash and thinly slice the cucumber.
3. Fry the black bean paste. Heat a small amount of oil in a wok or skillet. Add the black bean paste and fry until fragrant. Add a pinch of sugar to help remove the beany flavor.
4. Stir-fry the vegetables. Add the onion and carrot dice and stir-fry until softened. Add the potato dice and stir-fry until cooked through.
5. Add meat (optional). If using pork, add the diced pork and stir-fry until browned.
6. Make the sauce. Add the water or broth and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens.
7. To serve, divide the cooked noodles among bowls. Ladle the black bean sauce over the noodles. Garnish with cucumber slices and pickled radish strips (optional).

Tips:

Adjust the ingredient ratios to your liking. Add more pork if you like meat, or more vegetables if you prefer a veggie-heavy dish.

For a richer sauce, add a tablespoon of oyster sauce or Bean paste.

Make it spicy with a drizzle of chili sauce or chili oil.

Black bean paste is a fermented food that is high in protein and vitamins. It is also a good source of antioxidants.

Here are some additional cooking tips:

How to fry black bean paste:

To make the black bean paste easier to stir-fry, thin it out with a little water or oil before frying.

Be careful not to burn the black bean paste when frying.

How to make the sauce:

To prevent the sauce from clumping, thin out the cornstarch with a little water or broth before adding it to the sauce.

Add a pinch of salt to taste if you prefer a saltier dish.

How to cook the noodles:

Add a pinch of salt to the water for flavor when cooking the noodles.

Drain the noodles immediately after cooking to prevent them from sticking together.

I hope these detailed instructions help you make delicious black bean noodles!