Spicy & Addictive Homemade Mala Tang
#MalaTang #HomemadeMalaTang #EasyMalaTang #SpicyFood #ChineseCuisine #UsingMalaSauce
Relieve stress with this spicy and numbing Mala Tang, perfect for a comforting meal at home! This recipe features a generous mix of frozen seafood, cuttlefish, shrimp, and assorted frozen vegetables, enhanced with fresh bean sprouts and fragrant chives, plus chewy fen-tiao noodles for a delightful texture. The rich broth, infused with spicy mala sauce, creates an irresistibly addictive flavor. Using a culinary torch to add a smoky char to the seafood and bean sprouts elevates the aroma and taste, making your homemade Mala Tang truly special. Feel free to customize with ingredients like dried tofu or other toppings to create your unique version!
Main Ingredients- 200g beef for curry
- 3 cups frozen mixed seafood (shrimp, squid, clams, etc.)
- 1 cuttlefish
- 3 scallops (from a conch)
- 10 shrimp (frozen)
- 3 cups frozen mixed vegetables (bok choy, mushrooms, broccoli, etc.)
- 1 bag bean sprouts
- 1/2 bag chives
- 10 strands flat fen-tiao noodles
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Remove the cartilage from the cuttlefish and peel off the skin cleanly. Slice the conch scallops into roughly 4 pieces each.
Step 2
Score the cuttlefish body with a knife; this helps it absorb flavor and become more tender. Cut it into bite-sized pieces, about 1 cut across and 6 cuts lengthwise. For the tentacles, cut longer ones into 2 pieces and shorter ones as they are.
Step 3
Thaw the frozen shrimp by rinsing them under cold water.
Step 4
Thaw the frozen mixed seafood in cold water as well. You can thaw the shrimp and mixed seafood together for convenience.
Step 5
Place the frozen mixed vegetables in a container and let them thaw slightly. Assorted vegetables are convenient for stir-fries and easy to use.
Step 6
Heat a wok over medium-low heat with a little cooking oil. Add La Jiao Jiang, minced garlic, minced ginger, and chopped green onions. Stir-fry until the green onion aroma is released, creating scallion oil. Once the fragrant scallion oil is ready, add the curry-cut beef and stir-fry.
Step 7
When the beef turns grayish and is partially cooked, add the frozen mixed vegetables and stir-fry them together. At this stage, pour in 1 tablespoon of soju to effectively eliminate any gamey odor from the beef.
Step 8
Once the beef and vegetables are somewhat stir-fried, add all the prepared seafood: cuttlefish, conch scallops, shrimp, and frozen mixed seafood. Stir-fry together until the seafood begins to cook, then move to the next step.
Step 9
Turn the heat to high. Using a culinary torch, briefly flame the seafood from above to impart a smoky flavor. This enhances the natural umami and aroma of the seafood.
Step 10
After stir-frying the seafood, add the bean sprouts and stir-fry just until they are slightly wilted. Briefly torch the bean sprouts as well for added smoky flavor. Be careful not to overcook the bean sprouts, as they can release too much water.
Step 11
Maintaining high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the store-bought Mala Tang sauce. Stir-fry quickly to ensure the sauce coats all the ingredients evenly. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
Step 12
Before adding the broth, you can add a bit of chicken stock or seafood concentrate to deepen the broth’s flavor.
Step 13
Pour in 1.5 liters of the prepared seafood broth and add 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce to season. Bring the broth to a rolling boil over high heat.
Step 14
Once the broth is vigorously boiling, add the flat fen-tiao noodles strand by strand. Gently separate them to prevent clumping.
Step 15
Finally, add the fresh chives, cut into bite-sized pieces, and cook briefly to finish. Chives wilt quickly, so adding them last preserves their crisp texture.
Step 16
Your delicious Mala Tang is ready! It’s packed with generous seafood, chewy fen-tiao noodles, and fragrant chives, offering a spicy and addictive flavor that will tantalize your taste buds. It looks as appetizing as it tastes!
Step 17
Serve the finished Mala Tang in bowls. Enjoy the tender conch scallops, the chewy cuttlefish, and the rich, flavorful Mala Tang broth infused with the essence of various seafood! Enjoy your special homemade Mala Tang meal!
