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Cumin Lamb Noodles Recipe

Cumin Lamb Noodles Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 7 reviews

Cumin Lamb Noodles is a flavorful and aromatic Chinese-inspired dish featuring tender, marinated lamb stir-fried with toasted spices and served over hand-pulled or wide wheat noodles. The dish is spiced with cumin, Sichuan peppercorns, and coriander, balanced by a tangy sauce made of soy, vinegar, and chili oil, garnished with fresh cilantro and aromatics for a satisfying and spicy noodle meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Spices

  • 2 tablespoons whole cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds

Lamb Marinade & Stir-fry

  • 1 lb lamb, thinly sliced against the grain (preferably loin or shoulder)
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil) for cooking
  • 8 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 inches ginger, minced
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 hot green chili, sliced
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped (about 1 heaping cup loosely packed)

Sauce

  • 1/2 cup homemade chili oil (plus more to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • 4 teaspoons light soy sauce
  • 4 teaspoons dark soy sauce

Noodles

  • 1 batch homemade hand-pulled noodles or wide wheat noodles (see footnote 1)

Instructions

  1. Prepare noodles: If making hand-pulled noodles from scratch, have the dough ready before starting the lamb stir fry. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  2. Toast spices: Place cumin seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, and coriander seeds in a dry pan over medium-low heat. Stir and toss frequently until fragrant and beginning to pop, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and grind partially using a mortar & pestle, spice grinder, or heavy pan.
  3. Marinate lamb: In a bowl, combine lamb slices with Shaoxing wine, salt, peanut oil, and 2 teaspoons of the ground spice mixture. Add cornstarch and mix by hand until the lamb is fully coated. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
  4. Cook lamb: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over high heat until smoking. Add the marinated lamb in a single layer, separating slices to minimize overlap. Top with garlic and ginger. Let sear without stirring for 30 seconds to 1 minute until lamb bottoms brown.
  5. Stir-fry lamb: Stir occasionally until lamb is mostly browned on all sides and aromatics are golden, though lamb can remain slightly pink inside.
  6. Add vegetables: Add red onion and green chili slices. Stir fry for 10 to 20 seconds to slightly soften.
  7. Add spices: Toss the spice mix over the lamb and vegetables to coat evenly.
  8. Add sauce: Pour in the chili oil, Chinkiang vinegar, Shaoxing wine, light and dark soy sauces. Scrape the pan bottom to lift caramelized bits and stir fry for another 30 seconds to blend flavors.
  9. Finish lamb: Turn off heat and stir in chopped cilantro. Transfer to a large plate immediately to halt cooking.
  10. Cook noodles: For hand-pulled noodles, stretch and add directly to boiling water. Cook 1-2 minutes until just tender. If using packaged noodles, cook per package instructions.
  11. Assemble: Divide cooked noodles among 4 bowls.
  12. Serve: Spoon lamb mixture and sauce evenly over the noodles. Add extra chili oil, Chinkiang vinegar, or soy sauce to taste. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

  • For a more authentic flavor, make your own hand-pulled noodles, but wide wheat noodles can be a convenient alternative.
  • Adjust chili oil quantity to your heat preference.
  • Use well-marbled lamb cuts like loin or shoulder for tender results.
  • Sichuan peppercorns provide a subtle numbing spice; do not omit for authentic flavor.
  • If Shaoxing wine is unavailable, dry sherry is a good substitute.
  • Cooking lamb on high heat quickly seals in juices and develops a nice sear.
  • You can prepare the marinade and spices ahead to save time.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cumin Lamb Noodles, Chinese lamb recipe, hand-pulled noodles, Sichuan peppercorns, spicy noodle bowl

Find it online: https://zarameals.com/cumin-lamb-noodles-recipe/