Japanese Jajamen
A beloved regional noodle dish from Morioka, Japan, inspired by the classic Chinese Zha Jiang Mian. Warm, thick noodles are topped with an intensely savory, complex, and slightly sweet dark miso meat sauce. Mix it all up for a messy, flavorful experience.
- 2 portions Thick wheat noodles Udon or Jajamen noodles
- 1/2 lb Ground pork
- 1/2 Onion
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 knob Fresh ginger
- 2 tbsp Red miso paste
- 1 tbsp Sweet bean paste Tianmianjiang
- 1 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1/2 Cucumber
- 1 Green onion
Preparation: Finely mince the onion, garlic, and ginger. Julienne the cucumber into thin matchsticks and slice the green onion for the garnish.
Make the Meat Sauce Base: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the minced garlic and ginger until fragrant, then add the ground pork and minced onion. Cook until the pork is thoroughly browned.
Season the Meat: Push the meat to one side of the pan. Add the red miso paste and sweet bean paste to the empty space, frying them slightly to release their deep aroma. Mix them into the meat along with the soy sauce and a splash of water. Simmer until it forms a thick, dark, glossy meat sauce.
Cook the Noodles: Boil the thick wheat noodles until tender. Drain them well and place them warm into deep serving bowls.
Assemble and Mix: Place a generous dollop of the hot, dark miso meat sauce directly in the center of the warm noodles. Arrange the julienned cucumber and green onions on the side. To eat, aggressively mix the sauce, noodles, and vegetables together.
Keyword jajamen, Miso, Pork, regional, savory, Udon