We're celebrating the recent visit of our Asian "daughter" and her new husband with this month's recipe, Celebration Peking Meat Sauce Noodles. Yes, the long-awaited visit of the duo last month was and is certainly a cause for jubilation.
Theirs was a whirlwind journey starting in China, then leap-frogging to Los Angeles, then over to Las Vegas, then North to Brightwood and concluding in Seattle where the couple began their long journey back home to Nanning. The visit was a time filled with touring and festive occasions, most noteworthy of which was their marriage at Mt. Hood's historic Timberline Lodge, with its new beginnings and promises made memorable by their commitment and affection for each other.
So, it is that we offer a recipe in tribute to our Chinese loved ones, and to all those who love and have loved others.
The culinary finale of the wedding at Timberline was
a tiered wedding cake festooned with fresh roses.
Celebration Peking Meat Sauce Noodles
4 ounces dried spaghetti noodles
4 ounces baby spinach leaves
4 red radishes, cut into matchsticks, about 1/2 cup
1/4 cucumber, seeded and cut into matchsticks
6 ounces ground pork
1/2 tablespoon dry white wine
1 1/2 tablespoons each red miso and white miso
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon mushroom powder
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/3 cup water, plus more if needed to thin sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
- Cook spaghetti in salted, boiling water until chewy yet tender. Rinse and set aside to drain well.
- Place spinach in bowl and cover with very hot water. Let sit 1 minute, drain and place in a large serving bowl along with radishes and cucumber
- Combine pork and wine in separate bowl and set aside.
- Combine miso, hoisin, soy sauce and mushroom powder in small bowl and set aside.
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add oil. When shimmering, add pork mixture. Stir vigorously with fork to break up meat. Add green onions, and stirring constantly, cook for 1 minute. Stir in miso mixture. Add water and reduce heat to low. Let simmer 2 minutes. Turn off heat, stir in garlic and additional water if needed to thin sauce.
- Add pork mixture to the large serving bowl which holds the spinach, radishes and cucumber. Add drained noodles and mix well.