Ma Yi Shang Shu (Ants Climbing a Tree)
Mapo Spring Rain was born in Japan! The original prototype is "Ants climbing the tree"
Description
Japanese 'Mapo Harusame' was invented by the Nagatanien food company. The authentic prototype is the Sichuan dish 'Ants Climbing a Tree'. Glass noodles (branches) are dry-braised until they perfectly absorb a fiery red oil, with tiny minced pork bits (ants) clinging to them.
Restaurants serving Ma Yi Shang Shu (Ants Climbing a Tree)
Researching
We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Mung bean glass noodles
- Minced pork
- Pixian Doubanjiang
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Soy sauce
- Chicken broth
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe & Differences]
- (Noodle Prep) Soak mung bean glass noodles in 'warm water', keeping them slightly firm. (Boiling water makes them mushy during stir-frying).
- Fry minced lean pork in a wok until the fat renders and it becomes crispy crumbs (the ants).
- [Difference from JP Mapo Harusame]: Do not use sweet sauce. Slow-fry Pixian Doubanjiang, massive minced ginger and garlic to bleed a fiery 'Hong You' (red oil).
- Pour in chicken broth, season with soy and a pinch of sugar, and drop in the noodles.
- Blast on high heat so the noodles absorb the soup. Fry until the noodles soak up every drop of umami and red oil like a sponge, leaving absolutely ZERO liquid in the wok (Gan Chao).
- Garnish with scallions.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Pixian Doubanjiang depth、Roasted pork aroma
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Japanese Mapo Harusame packets (but flavor is too sweet)
Pairing
White Rice (Mandatory bouncing) / Beer
Trivia
[Trivia] Showcases Chinese poetic naming sense: 'It looks like ants (minced meat) climbing a tree (noodles)'. Frying until all liquid evaporates highlights the chewy noodles and crispy meat perfectly.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Lift the noodles with chopsticks, and countless tiny, red-oil-soaked pork crumbs will aggressively cling to the strands. Place this directly onto white rice and devour.
Allergen
Pork, Soybeans, Wheat (Soy sauce)