This has been one of our family favorites for years, and one the girls always request when coming home – I hope you like it just as much!

Cooking with Asian ingredients may look intimidating at first, mainly because the ingredient list is so lengthy, but once you have all the supplies it is quick and easy to do so many different dishes.  I always recommend having all the ingredients chopped, and at hand before you start cooking.  Wok cookery is quick!

BROTH

• 2 tbsp peanut oil
• 6 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp chile oil
• 8 tbsp Chinese black bean paste
• 6 scallions (green onions) chopped finely
• 2 tbsp Chinese chile paste
• 5 tbsp LOW SODIUM soy sauce
• 6 tbsp peanut butter
• 4 tbsp tahini paste, even better with Chinese Sesame paste
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth

For Tan Tan deluxe – 1 pound ground beef or pork

ASSEMBLY

• thin asian noodles, cooked and drained
• green onions – sliced thin
• cilantro – chopped
• peanuts – chopped and toasted
• bean sprouts – rinsed well

METHOD

In a medium saucepan, with heavy bottom, heat the oil over moderate heat.  Add the ginger and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes – or until they begin to turn golden brown – watch carefully so they don’t darken too quickly (burnt garlic is bitter).  Add sesame oil, chili oil and the black beans.  Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Add green onions and cook 2 minutes.  Stir in the chile paste and soy sauce – stir to create a smooth sauce.  Add the peanut butter and tahini, again stirring to create a smooth paste.  Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

It’s important to take time to cook all the above ingredients as listed, it helps build the flavor.

Add the broth slowly and reduce the heat to medium low.  Let the sauce simmer for at least 15 minutes to allow flavours to blend and the broth to thicken.  Taste, taste, taste!!  You should have a rich broth, full of flavour and layers of tastes.  If you like it richer, play  with all the broth ingredients until you get the balance you personally prefer – you may like it spicier so go ahead and add more chili oil or even some chili flakes.  If you like more of a peanut flavour, add more peanut butter – all so easy to do and get your preferred flavour balance.

To serve place noodles in bowl, add broth.  Scatter green onions, cilantro, bean sprouts and peanuts over top.

If you like the Deluxe Version – brown the ground meat and drain off any fat – add 1 or 2 ladles of the broth and allow the beef to soak up the liquid.  When serving, sprinkle the meat on top of the noodles before adding the broth.