Easy to make Zha jiang mian (Soupless nikumiso ramen)

JAJAMEN（ジャージャー麺）

炸醤麺 = Zha jiang mian = soupless nikumiso ramen

Zha jiang mian is a noodle dish that originated in China. In China, noodle dishes are generally served with noodles and soup. However, Zhajiang mian is unique in that it does not have soup.

This dish is made of boiled ramen (Chinese noodles) topped with zhajiang（＝炸醤）, a paste made from minced pork.

The ingredients for zhajiang are minced pork, Chinese soybean miso（黄醤）, and sweet flour paste(甜麺醤). In Japan, chili peppers and chili bean sauce (豆板醤) are sometimes added.

Sweet flour paste(甜麺醤) is not commonly found in most households, so I use red miso instead.

Cucumber is a must-have topping for this noodle dish. In addition to cucumber, this recipe uses bean sprouts and pickled ginger. Other ingredients that go well with zha jiang mian include green onions and edamame beans.

Iwate Prefecture has a specialty dish called “Morioka Jajamen.”

Morioka Jajamen is said to be a reproduction of Jajamen by a Chinese person living in Japan using ingredients available in Japan.

The distinctive feature of Morioka Jajamen in Iwate is the noodles. They use Kishimen (flat udon) instead of Chinese noodles.

Similarly, in Korea, there is a noodle dish called Jajangmyeon, which is derived from Zhajiangmien.

Jajangmyeon is black in color because it uses  black bean sauce(春醤) instead of sweet flour paste(甜麺醤）. This has a sweet taste and not spicy.

Nikumiso ramen with soup is called tantanmen (dandan noodles).

NUTRITION FACT of Zha jiang mian (Soupless nikumiso ramen recipe)

• 733 kcal
• Protein 34.4 g
• Fat 23.2 g
• Carbs 101.5 g
• Salt Equivalents 7.4 g

INGREDIENTS for Zha jiang mian (Soupless nikumiso ramen recipe) (3SERVINGS)

NIKU MISO

• Minced pork (300g)
  • Garlic (8g)
  • Ginger (8g)
  • chili bean sauce (豆板醤)(10g)
  • Chili pepper (1 pinch)
  • Sesame oil (12g)
• ☆Red miso (90g)
• ☆Soy sauce (30g)
• ☆Sugar (60g)
• ☆Sake (60g)
• ☆Water (200g)
• Potato starch (4g)
  • Water (50g)

ZHA JIANG MIAN

• Chinese noodles ( 3pieces/450g)
• Cucumber (90g)
• Bean sprouts (100g )
• Pickled ginger (appropriate amount)

Zha jiang mian (Soupless nikumiso ramen recipe) COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Chop the garlic and ginger.
2. Heat sesame oil in a frying pan and fry the minced pork, garlic, ginger, chili bean sauce, and chili peppers over medium heat.
3. Add red miso, soy sauce, sugar, sake, and water and mix. (This sauce is called “nikumiso = zhajiang”.)
4. Turn off the heat and add the potato starch dissolved in water.
5. Return the heat to the stove and heat.
6. When the nikumiso thickens, turn off the heat.
7. Boil the Chinese noodles, drain the noodles in a colander. Follow the product’s boiling time.
8. Wash the cucumber and cut it into thin strips.
9. Boil the bean sprouts in the same pot as the Chinese noodles and drain them.
10. Place the cucumber, bean sprouts, pickled ginger, and nikumiso (= zhajiang, 炸醤) on ​​top of the Chinese noodles.

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