Re Gan Mian

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 250g spaghetti
• 2 tsp, heaped tahini (tahini, sesame paste)
• 1 tsp soy sauce, light
• 1 tsp soy sauce, dark
• ¾ tsp vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp chili oil
• 2 tsp chili paste, red
• 2 tbsp water, warm
• 2 spring onions
• 4 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions

Working time approx. 5 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 10 minutes; Total time approx. 15 minutes

Spicy noodles from Wuhan, China

Re Gan Mian is a traditional dish from Wuhan in central China. It’s traditionally a breakfast dish, but delicious any time of day. Literally translated, it means spicy, dry noodles, and the name says it all. There are various preparation methods, but the recipe is most similar to the one used by the old woman who used to live around the corner from me and who sold Re Gan Mian on the street in the mornings. She used Jianmian as noodles, but it tastes just as good with plain spaghetti, and those are much easier to get in Germany. Cook the spaghetti. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce: Mix together tahini (a good heaped teaspoon), soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and chili oil. Then mix in 2-3 teaspoons of chili paste to taste (it should be just hot enough that you can tolerate the pure sauce on your tongue without causing pain). Then add a splash of warm water (about 1-2 tablespoons) and mix well. The result should be a thick paste/sauce. Pour the sauce over the noodles. Garnish with spring onions and sesame seeds, if desired. Depending on the district, sliced ​​carrots or cucumbers may also be served.