Szechuan Cold Sesame Noodles

Serves: 3-4

Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 20-30 min

Easy, tingly, and flavorful cold noodles served with chicken – just perfect for a snack, lunch or dinner. Omit the meat and double the cucumber for our vegetarian friends.

Ingredients

Sauce

1 cup light soy sauce

½ cup sugar

1 tbs brown sugar

1 star anise

1 inch cinnamon stick

1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns

1 black cardamom

Noodles

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tbs sesame paste

2 tbs chili oil

1 ½ tbs of your “Sauce”

1 tbs chinkiang vinegar

⅛ tsp ground Sichuan pepper

1 tbs of mala chili oil

3-4 servings of Chinese wheat noodles, fresh and slightly thicker

12-16 oz boneless and skinless chicken breast, shredded

Green onions and cilantro, to garnish, optional

Cucumber slices, optional

Crushed peanuts, to garnish, optional

Instructions

Sauce

1. Combine all your sauce ingredients and place in a pan over medium heat until it boils. Lower the heat to simmer and let it cook for about 15 minutes until it thickens. Cool the mixture to room temperature and store in an airtight container.

Noodles & Assembly

1. Set a large pot with water over medium heat to boil. While that is heating up, complete your sauce.

2. In another pot with water over medium heat, let it boil and add in your chicken breast. If you have any green onion stalk or ginger you can toss it in. Otherwise cook it for 20-25 min. Remove from the stock onto a plate and let cool.

3. Mince your clove of garlic and add it to 2 tbs of water in a large liquid measuring cup. Let it rest and stir in the sesame paste. If your sauce is very thick you may add 1-2 tbs of water/chicken stock.

4. Add your chili oil, mala chili oil, homemade sauce, black vinegar, Sichuan pepper and mix well. Test to see if the sauce needs any adjustments.

5. Add your noodles into a large mixing bowl, pour in most of the sauce and mix very well.

6. Now that your chicken has cooled, you can shred it by tearing it with your hands. You can also use two forks to pull apart the meat. Once finished, place into a small bowl, add the rest of the sauce and toss well.

7. If you want to use cucumbers, you will want to slice them the long way and thinly. You can also slice your green onions, tear your cilantro, and crush your peanuts for the final assembly.

8. If you care about assembly, place your noodles onto a large bowl or plate, put your cucumbers on next, then your chicken and then your garnishes. If you don’t mind about plating, you can toss everything together and enjoy!