Zha Jian Mian Noodles

Zha jiang mian is a famous noodle dish that originates from Northern China and is quite popular in Beijing.  Zha Jiang literally means "fried sauce" and can be considered as the pasta bolognese of China.  It is often served on top of la mian noodles, with condiments of thinly slices cucumber and carrots.  Below is a recipe of my version of Zha Jiang Mian.

Ingredients:
500g of ground chicken
1/2 cup sweet bean paste
1T black beans
1-2 cups of water
4 minced garlic cloves
4 spring onions chopped (white portion onlyI
3T Soy Sauce
Splash of dry sherry
1T Sichuan pepper corns
3 star anise
Oil
La Mian noodles or store bought Beijing noodles
Thinly sliced cucumber and carrots

1. Add oil and heat wok at high heat.
2. Add sichuan pepper corns and star anise and fry till fragrant.  Discard pepper corns and star anise from oil.
3. Add minced garlic and spring onions.  Stir fry till fragrant.  Place black beans and continue to stir fry for a minute.
4. Add ground meat and stir fry till no longer pink.
5. Add dry sherry, soy sauce, sweet bean paste and continue to stir fry for 3 minutes or so.  Add water and cook till sauce reduce.  If sauce is still not thick enough, corn starch solution can be added to help thicken the sauce. 
6. Once sauce is thicken, turn off heat and serve meat sauce over noodles.
7. Additional condiments of cucumber and carrot slices can be added to top the dish off.