Asian-Style Dan Dan Noodles

Ingredients

Pork

• 1 lb 454 g Quebec ground pork
• 1 tbsp. 15 ml vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp. 30 ml hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp. 30 ml soy sauce
• 2 tsp. 10 ml freshly grated ginger
• ½ tsp. 2.5 ml ground Szechuan pepper
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 lb 454 g Shanghai-style noodles (or udon or ramen noodles)
• 8 oz 225 g baby bok choy, quartered
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Sauce

• 3 tbsp. 45 ml soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. 15 ml tahini
• 2 to 3 tbsp. 30 to 45 ml homemade or store-bought chili oil to taste
• 1 ½ tsp. 7.5 ml black rice vinegar or rice vinegar
• 1 tsp. 5 ml sugar
• ½ tsp. 2.5 ml ground Szechuan pepper

Garnish

• ½ cup 125 ml chopped unsalted roasted peanuts
• 3 green onions, sliced diagonally

Homemade chili oil

• 1 cup 250 ml canola oil
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 star anise
• 3 cardamom pods, crushed
• 1 tbsp. 15 ml Szechuan pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tbsp. 45 ml crushed chili peppers
• 1 tsp. 5 ml salt