Ants Climbing a Tree is a classic Sichuan dish with a quirky name. It’s actually minced pork stir-fried with glass noodles—the meat clings to the noodles like ants on a tree. The noodles soak up all the savory, spicy sauce, making it an irresistible dish with steamed rice.
🌴 Ingredients:
· 1 handful sweet potato vermicelli (soaked in warm water until soft)
· 100g minced pork (fatty and lean)
🌴 Aromatics:
· 4-5 cloves minced garlic
· A small piece of minced ginger
· 1 stalk chopped scallion
· 3-4 dried red chilies (cut into segments)
🌴 Seasonings:
· 1 tbsp doubanjiang (about 15g, the soul of the dish)
· 2 tbsp light soy sauce (about 20ml)
· 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce (about 5ml, for color)
· 1 tbsp oyster sauce (about 10ml)
· A pinch of sugar (to enhance flavor)
· 1 tbsp cooking wine (about 10ml)
· Salt, to taste
· Cooking oil, as needed
🌴 Instructions:
- Prepare the Vermicelli
Soak the vermicelli in warm water until soft, then cut into shorter pieces. ⚠️ Note: Never use boiling water, or the noodles will turn into a mushy clump. I’ve tried it, and they stuck together during stir-frying. - Stir-fry the Pork
Heat oil in a pan, add the minced pork, and stir-fry over medium heat until it changes color and releases oil. Add the ginger, garlic, and dried chilies, and stir-fry until fragrant. ⚠️ Note: Fry the meat until slightly dry for the best aroma. I’ve tried it undercooked, and it was too greasy. - Stir-fry the Sauce
Turn to low heat, add the doubanjiang, and stir-fry until the oil turns red and fragrant. Add the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and cooking wine. Mix well. ⚠️ Note: Cook the doubanjiang over low heat to prevent burning. - Combine and Serve
Add half a bowl of hot water and bring to a boil. Add the soaked vermicelli, reduce to medium heat, and stir quickly with chopsticks to absorb the sauce. Once the sauce thickens and coats the noodles, sprinkle with scallion and serve. ⚠️ Note: The noodles stick easily; keep stirring with chopsticks. I’ve tried it without stirring, and they stuck to the pan.
💡 More Savory and Satisfying Dishes:
If you enjoy this ants climbing a tree, you should also try my [Mapo Tofu] for another incredibly flavorful and satisfying dish.
Want to explore more? Check out my full [Home-style Dishes] category!
💡 Tips:
The key to Ants Climbing a Tree is “flavorful noodles, savory minced meat.” Soak the vermicelli in warm water, never boiling water. Fry the meat until slightly dry for the best texture. Cook the doubanjiang over low heat for the red oil. Keep stirring with chopsticks when combining to prevent sticking.
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