Ants in Trees

This morning my husband and I watched Alton Brown make this dish on Food Network and decided we should give it a shot! Alton called it 'Ants in Trees', but it's really more like pork in noodles with Asian sauces and a kick of spice! It turned out really easy to make and had great flavor!


To make it you will need:

• 4 & 1/2 oz. BEAN NOODLES (CELLOPHANE NOODLES)
• 2 oz. SOY SAUCE
• 1 Tbs RICE WINE VINEGAR
• 1 Tbs SAMBAL CHILI GARLIC PASTE
• 1 tsp CORNSTARCH
• 10 oz. GROUND PORK
• 1 Tbs CANOLA OIL
• 4 GREEN ONIONS, chopped
• 1/2 cup CHICKEN BROTH

Start by soaking the noodles in hot water for 20 minutes in order to soften them.

While the noodles are soaking, whisk together the soy sauce, rice wine, and chili garlic paste. Then whisk in the cornstarch. Once all of the ingredients are well combined mix the pork into the sauce with your hands.

When the sauce has been mixed into the pork allow it to sit for about 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.

After the noodles have soaked for 20 minutes, strain the water out and let them sit in the colander for about 10 minutes. Then use a knife or kitchen shears to cut the noodles into approximately 4 inch pieces.  

Heat the oil in a skillet until it is very hot and then add the pork. Stir it constantly so it doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan.

 Add 2/3 of the green onions into the pan and continue cooking until the pork is browned. Then turn the heat down to medium-high and add the chicken stock. Cook for about 3 minutes more.

Next, start adding handfuls of the noodles into the skillet. Toss the noodles in the sauce before adding the next handful. Continue tossing the noddles in the meat and sauce until the meat clings to the noodles and there is no more liquid in the skillet. Top with the remaining green onions and serve!

Here is a little better picture. I know this dish doesn't photograph well, but I promise it has a really good flavor!

**** We made this dish again using rice noodles and it turned out really well! (We prepared everything the same way as above.)

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Ants in Trees

Ingredients:

• 4 & 1/2 oz. BEAN NOODLES (CELLOPHANE NOODLES)
• 2 oz. SOY SAUCE
• 1 Tbs RICE WINE VINEGAR
• 1 Tbs SAMBAL CHILI GARLIC PASTE
• 1 tsp CORNSTARCH
• 10 oz. GROUND PORK
• 1 Tbs CANOLA OIL
• 4 GREEN ONIONS, chopped
• 1/2 cup CHICKEN BROTH

Directions:

1. Soak the noodles in hot water for 20 minutes in order to soften them.
2. While the noodles are soaking, whisk together the soy sauce, rice wine, and chili garlic paste. Then whisk in the cornstarch. Once all of the ingredients are well combined mix the pork into the sauce with your hands.
3. When the sauce has been mixed into the pork allow it to sit for about 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
4. After the noodles have soaked for 20 minutes, strain the water out and let them sit in the colander for about 10 minutes. Then use a knife or kitchen shears to cut the noodles into approximately 4 inch pieces.  
5. Heat the oil in a skillet until it is very hot and then add the pork. Stir it constantly so it doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan.
6.  Add 2/3 of the green onions into the pan and continue cooking until the pork is browned. Then turn the heat down to medium-high and add the chicken stock. Cook for about 3 minutes more.
7. Next, start adding handfuls of the noodles into the skillet. Toss the noodles in the sauce before adding the next handful. Continue tossing the noddles in the meat and sauce until the meat clings to the noodles and there is no more liquid in the skillet. Top with the remaining green onions and serve!

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I found this recipe on this website: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/ants-in-trees-recipe/index.html