Taiwanese Shrimp and Pork Noodles 【台灣小吃】擔仔麵

Описание: This noodle soup is also known as Danzai Noodles, or Tann-A Noodles in Taiwanese.

What is Danzai Noodles? It's one of Taiwan's most famous street foods. This noodle soup is packed with wonderful flavours of pork and shrimp broth. Then the noodles are topped with minced pork that has been simmered in soy sauce for hours. Finally a few boiled shrimps are placed on top.

Danzai Noodles and Braised Beef Noodles are definitely the top two noodle soup names in Taiwan.

It seems to have a similar background story as Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles. Vendors used to carry these noodles on their shoulders with a long pole (danzai, or tann-a).

Originated from Southern Taiwan, fishermen used to sell these noodles during the winter slow season to make ends meet.

Today Danzai Noodles has become one of the most well known street food items all over Taiwan. Many old vendors have passed on their family recipes to their children and grandchildren, and their noodle stalls have evolved into upmarket and modern franchises. Many high end restaurants have also started serving these noodles.

Recipe:
1. 150g to 200g medium size shrimps. I bought frozen deshelled shrimps. After the shrimps are defrosted, stir fry for one minute. Then add 1 to 1.5 liter of water to create shrimp broth. Add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp white pepper.

If you'd like to do it the traditional way, buy shrimps / prawns with heads and shells on. Remove heads and shells. Stir fry the heads and shells in a pot until they're thoroughly cooked. Then add water and seasoning.

I don't like boiling shrimp heads and shells when they're still raw, because it gives the broth a very fishy taste.

Prepare 1 small pot of pork bone broth or chicken broth. I used store-bought chicken broth. Add shrimp broth into the stock.

2. For the meat sauce, first fry 350g of minced pork in a frying pan. Add one finely chopped onion.

3. Season with:
4 tbs of soy sauce.
1 tbs of sugar.
1 tsp of five spices.
2 tsp of crushed garlic.
1 tbs of rice wine (optional).
2 tsp of Chinese black vinegar (optional)

4. Boil ramen noodles for three minutes. (You can use any type of noodles, such as egg noodles, rice noodles or vermicelli.)

5. Place noodles in a bowl. Add a few spoons of meat sauce.

6. Add 1 tsp of crushed garlic (optional). I didn't add raw garlic.

7. Pour broth over noodles. Add some bean sprouts, and some chopped spring onion or coriander.

8. Place two to three shrimps on top.

9. Enjoy!