Almost Goma Tei: Tan Tan Noodles

Aaaaahhh.  Nice to finally be on vacation.  In spite of having the time to cook, I really don't feel like cooking.  I'm blaming it on the holiday hype.  Still being in the recovery phase of an illness which has festered since Halloween, the 1 hour I spent in Target pretty much zapped my energy.  Meals are gonna be the product of the shortest distance between two points, a.k.a. minimal effort.

As you know from my earlier post, I have a deep, deep affinity for Goma Tei's Tan Tan Noodles.  It seems like I'm not the only  one.  Someone named Robyn Goong wrote to the Honolulu Star Advertiser's food lady, Betty Shimabukuro, and asked her to come up with a copycat recipe for the ethereal Goma Tei version.  You can read the article and get the original copycat recipe here.

The difference with my recipe lies in the amounts of black bean chili sauce and sesame oil to add and in the process by which the sauce ingredients are added to the stock.  Since I hate to see seeds and chili pepper casings in my food, I had to strain the black bean chili sauce so I could get the heat with out the seeds and casings.  Yes, I know, the OCD is coming out.

And speaking of my OCD. . .those of you who know me well are aware that I hate to touch anything cold and slimy or oily with my bare hands.  I tried to be very neat with the sesame paste, but in my effort to get to the paste by delicately plowing through the oil layer, I somehow ended up spilling most of the oil layer on the jar and onto the granite counter.  I got the counter cleaned up and decided I would wash the bottle with dishwashing soap so it wouldn't be all oily when I put it away.  I guess I didn't cover the bottle good enough because in the process of washing the bottle, the bottle opened up.  Not only did the sesame paste (not just the oily part) spill all over my WHITE jacket sleeve, but the soap from the sponge ended up inside the partially filled bottle.  FARCK!  

But after the first bite of the noodles, it was all worth it.  The broth had the same "dirty" look as the Goma Tei version.  The thinly sliced roast pork was a good approximation of the spiral slab of pork belly.  And really, its way after Labor Day. . .wearing white is a fashion faux pas.

click on recipe title for printable recipe
Tan Tan Noodles

     4 c chicken stock

     1/4 c shoyu

     1 tbsp sugar

     2 tbsp sesame paste

     2 tsp black bean chili sauce

     1 tbsp sesame oil

     11 oz fresh noodles, boiled and drained.

     greens, blanched (won bok, baby bok choy, etc.)

     roast pork, sliced thin

Heat chicken stock.  When stock begins to simmer, add shoyu and sugar.  Add 2 tbsp stock to sesame paste.  Mix well, then add back to stock.  Place black bean chili sauce in a small sieve.  Spoon hot stock over sauce.  Discard seeds and chili pepper casings which remain in the sieve.  Add sesame oil.  Keep stock at a simmer.  Divide drained noodles between 2 saimin bowls.  Top with greens and roast pork.  Ladle soup over all.

Restaurant Chatter: Goma Tei

Just look at how thick and hearty the broth is.

I have been waiting a long time to post this.  Goma Tei has got to be my favorite noodle restaurant in the world.  Yes, I meant world.  Of course, I missed out on having ramen at the yatai in Fukuoka/Hakata because Mr. Dependable had seen the yatai workers washing dishes in the back.  That ended any chance I had of sampling what is known in Japan as good ramen.  Okay, so my world is a little narrow.

When I'm in Honolulu, I make every attempt to enjoy at least one meal at Goma Tei.  Goma Tei has 2 locations, Ward Center and Ala Moana.  I will eat at either location, as I can't tell the difference in the quality of the food.  They are both awesome.

There is never any doubt as to what I'll eat at Goma Tei:  tan tan ramen and gyoza.  The tan tan broth is sultry and robust.  The gyoza have just the right amount of garlic.  If there was some way I could bring tan tan noodles and gyoza home for moonyagi, I would do it!  I would also love it if Goma Tei were to open another shop on the Big Island.  If they came to Hilo, I'd eat there weekly!