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A32 FEATURE
Wednesday 29 november 2017
KitchenWise: Ants in a Tree is a crowd-pleaser

By SARA MOULTON
Associated Press
“Ants in a Tree” is the Eng-
lish translation of the Chi-
nese name for this classic
recipe. Built of spicy pork,
bean thread noodles
(aka cellophane noodles)
and scallions, it earned its
name because it’s not so
far-fetched for the finished
dish to call that image to
mind — the noodles look
like tree branches, the
scallions like tree leaves
and the little bits of ground
pork like ants. Admittedly,
it’s not a very appetizing
image, but the dish itself
happens to be a crowd-
pleaser. Indeed, it’s a re-
freshing break from the
usual holiday fare.
Cellophane noodles can
be tough to find in your
supermarket, which is why
I’ve listed capellini (very
thin strands of pasta). If
you’re not a fan of pork, This Nov. 17, 2017 photo shows “Ants in a Tree” in New York, which is the English translation of the Chinese name of a classic recipe.
Associated Press
you’re welcome to swap 3 tablespoons vegetable
in beef, turkey, or chicken. water to boil for the pasta. up, and cook, stirring until ring occasionally (the mix-
And if you can’t source oil In a medium bowl com- most of the pink has dis- ture will be soupy at first
1 tablespoon grated fresh
Asian chile paste (made of bine well the pork, 2 table- appeared. Stir in the cab- and then become less
chiles mixed with oil or vin- ginger spoons of the soy sauce, bage and the remaining saucy as the pasta absorbs
1 tablespoon minced gar-
egar and salt), use your fa- the sesame oil, the corn- 2 tablespoons soy sauce the broth). Divide the pas-
vorite brand of hot sauce. lic starch and the 1/2 cup and cook, stirring, until the ta and pork evenly among
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons
Of course, if you’d prefer white and light green cabbage is slightly wilted, 6 bowls, pouring any liquid
the dish to be mild, leave over it, and garnish with
the hot stuff out of it. the scallion greens and
Make sure you prepare toasted sesame seeds.q
every ingredient before ___
you begin cooking. Many Nutrition information per
of them cook very quickly serving: 428 calories; 236
and are added to the pan calories from fat; 26 g fat (7
in rapid succession. If at g saturated; 0 g trans fats);
any stage the next round 54 mg cholesterol; 588 mg
of ingredients isn’t ready to sodium; 25 g carbohy-
go, the ones in the pan will drate; 2 g fiber; 2 g sugar;
overcook. 19 g protein.
As a way to help the noo- ___
dles absorb the myriad EDITOR’S NOTE: Sara Moult-
flavors of the sauce, par- on is host of public televi-
cook the noodles and fin- sion’s “Sara’s Weeknight
ish them in the sauce. If, in Meals.” She was executive
the end, you’re more in the chef at Gourmet maga-
mood for a bowl of soup zine for nearly 25 years
than a plate of pasta, add and spent a decade host-
more chicken broth. ing several Food Network
ANTS IN A TREE shows, including “Cooking
Start to finish: 50 minutes Live.” Her latest cookbook
Servings: 6 is “HomeCooking 101.”
Kosher salt This Nov. 17, 2017 photo shows “Ants in a Tree” in New York, which is the English translation of the
1 pound ground pork Chinese name of a classic recipe.
Like
1/4 cup low-sodium soy Associated Press Like
sauce, divided Asian chile paste (or to sliced scallions. 1 to 2 minutes.
1 tablespoon toasted sesa- taste) In a wok or large skillet When the pot of water has
us on
me oil 3 cups shredded Napa heat the oil over high heat come to a boil, add the us on
2 teaspoons cornstarch cabbage until it is almost smoking. pasta, stir, and boil it for 2
1/2 cup thinly sliced white 6 ounces capellini Add the ginger, garlic and and add them to the skil- Facebook
minutes. Drain the noodles
and light green part of 1 cup chicken broth chile paste; cook, stirring, Facebook
scallion, plus 1/2 cup thinly 2 tablespoons toasted ses- for 30 seconds or until the let along with the chicken
sliced dark green part of ame seeds for garnish mixture smells fragrant. broth. Bring to a boil and Bon Dia 24 Aruba
scallion for garnish Put on a large pot of salted Add the pork, breaking it simmer for 2 minutes, stir- facebook.com/bondianoticia