Chinese Mǎyǐshàngshù
Mǎyǐshàngshù from the Chinese region Sichuan is a dish with a name that you will never forget. In its classic version, thin glass noodles, also called bean threads, soak up a sauce made with ground meat. The result looks like ants climbing on tree twigs. That's why 'Mǎyǐ shàng shù' translates to 'Ants on a tree'. We used easier to find thin spaghetti and optional healthy vegetables. Our spice blend with Shitake powder is full of umami.
Ingredients
Protein
- 0.75 lb ground pork, poultry, or veal[1]
Fresh Produce
- 5 green onions sliced
Packaged Goods/Staples
- 3.5 oz very thin spaghetti aka capellini[2]
- 2 cups rice
- soy sauce or tamari
- oil
- salt & pepper
Mǎyǐshàngshù Culinary Spice Kit
- cinnamon, fennel, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, black pepper, cloves, star anise
Optional
- 4 oz vegetables of your choice[3] thinly sliced or cut into very small pieces
Instructions
Rice & Noodles
- Prepare rice and noodles according to package instructions.
- Drain. Keep the cooking water from the noodles.
Cook
- In a large PAN, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat.
- Add meat and Mǎyǐshàngshù spices.
- Mix and stir-fry until the meat is crumbled and cooked.
- Add vegetables (optional), green onions, and 2 tbsp soy sauce.
- Mix and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the noodles and 1 cup of their cooking water. Mix well.
- Optionally, add to taste: soy sauce, salt & pepper, a bit more cooking water.
Serve
- Serve Mǎyǐshàngshù sauce over rice.
- Enjoy!
Notes
[1] Substitute meat with mushrooms, finely chopped.
[2] Substitute spaghetti with glass noodles and add them to the PAN uncooked.
[3] Recommended: mushrooms, zucchini, rutabaga, turnip, celery, bell pepper, broccoli florets, or green asparagus.
- Make it again and substitute the spices with 1-2 tbsp Asian bean paste.
Marceline Reid-Jaques
2022-12-14
Karen Jones
2022-12-05
Wonderful, flavorful meals using readily available ingredients!
ann davis
2022-11-29
My daughter gave me a subscription as a Christmas present while our families were quarantining together. It was so much fun! It introduced us to several cuisines that were totally new to us. The recipes were easy to follow and the spices were transformative - fresh and pungent and delicious.
Jessica Brown
2022-05-22
The best way to try new dishes!
Chinese Mǎyǐshàngshù
Mǎyǐshàngshù from the Chinese region Sichuan is a dish with a name that you will never forget. In its classic version, thin glass noodles, also called bean threads, soak up a sauce made with ground meat. The result looks like ants climbing on tree twigs. That's why 'Mǎyǐ shàng shù' translates to 'Ants on a tree'. We used easier to find thin spaghetti and optional healthy vegetables. Our spice blend with Shitake powder is full of umami.
Shopping list
- 1.5 lb ground pork (poultry, or veal)
- 5 green onions (sliced)
- 10.5 oz very thin spaghetti aka capellini
- tamari or soy sauce
- oil
- salt & pepper
Optional
- 4-8 oz vegetables of your choice ((see notes))
- cooked rice
Culinary Spice Kit
- Cinnamon, fennel, garlic, Shitake mushrooms, black pepper, star anise, cloves
- Prepare the noodles according to package instructions. Keep the cooking water.
- In a large PAN, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat.
- Add meat and Mǎyǐshàngshù Spices. Mix and stir-fry until the meat is crumbled and cooked.
- Add vegetables (optional), green onions, and 2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce.
- Mix and stir-fry for 3 minutes.
- Add the noodles and 1 cup of their cooking water. Mix well.
- Add more cooking water, tamari or soy sauce and/ or salt & pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
* Recommended: thinly sliced mushrooms, zucchini, rutabaga, turnip, celery, bell pepper; or broccoli florets or green asparagus, cut in small pieces.
▪ Substitute spaghetti with glass noodles.
▪ Make it again and substitute the spices with 1-2 tbsp bean paste.
