5 from 24 votes
Ma Yi Shang Shu: Ants Climbing a Tree
Ma Yi Shang Shu, or Ants Climbing a Tree, is a Sichuan dish featuring glass noodles cooked with a savory ground pork sauce made from fermented spicy bean paste, soy sauces, and aromatics. The noodles absorb the spicy, umami-rich sauce, and the tender pork with ginger and garlic forms a textured topping that resembles ants on tree branches, lending the dish its name.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
4
people
Calories:
474 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Asian, Chinese, Taiwanese
Ingredients
- 6 ounces vermicelli noodles or Glass Noodles
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 12 ounces ground pork
- 1 Tablespoon ginger minced
- 1 garlic minced, clove
- 2 Tablespoons fermented bean paste Spicy Doubanjiang, spicy
- 1 Cup chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce light
- 2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine cooking wine
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ Cup green onion diced
- ½ Cup asparagus Diced. Optional
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients, as noted above, then heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or large pan over medium-high heat.
- Precook the noodles in water per the package instructions then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Reserve.
- Add the spicy fermented bean paste, garlic, and ginger to the wok and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add in the ground pork and and cook until cooked through, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Add the liquid ingredients and sugar and bring to a boil, then add in the cooked noodles and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add in the green onion and asparagus and reduce to a simmer. Simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Serve the Ants Climbing Up a Tree warm.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
474kcal
(24%)
Carbohydrates
44g
(15%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
6g
(35%)
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Trans Fat
0.04g
(2%)
Cholesterol
62mg
(21%)
Sodium
968mg
(40%)
Potassium
357mg
(8%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
258IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
41mg
(4%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 474
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 474kcal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 15% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6g | 35% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 0.04g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 62mg | 21% |
| Sodium | 968mg | 40% |
| Potassium | 357mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 258IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 41mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.