What is Ja Jiam Mein?
Asked by
Supacase (
14563
)
October 23rd, 2009
This is on our local Chinese takeout menu, but I don’t know what it is. The description is “Most popular authentic homemade noodle with choice of shrimp, beef, chicken, pork or combination.”
I asked when I called in our order for other food and I understand it is similar to Lo Mein, which I am familiar with and like, but with a different sauce. Unfortunately, I could not understand his description of the sauce.
I have looked online with no success. The closest I can find is Jia Jia, but I can’t even find a description of what it is beyond a noodle dish.
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9 Answers
It sounds like it may be a Fujianese dish. I am no expert, but at least in New York’s Chinatown, the Mandarin Speakers are taking over from the Cantonese, who have been the historical residents.
If I were you, I’d try it. In fact, now I want some.
Ja Jian Mein, Pantry Style
for the sauce:
1–2 tbls hoisin sauce
1–2 tbls soy sauce
pinch of ground ginger
pinch of garlic powder
pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tsp dried minced onion
splash of rice wine vinegar
this is the recipe I found in google, sounds like pretty much every thing else. I would give it a try.
does it have a black sauce??
I don’t know @noelasun, there was no picture on the menu.
There is a Korean dish with a name similar to this, Ja Jiang Mein. What both have in common is that the sauce for the noodles includes a bean-based sauce such as hoi sin sauce, or bean paste, which is not found in Lo Mein. In contrast, Lo Mein’s sauce tends to have oyster sauce and sometimes sesame oil in it.
Here is another Ja Jiam Mein recipe:
Ingredients:
Vegetable oil: ¼ to ½ cup
Ground pork (fatty): ½ to ¾ lb
Bean sauce: 5 to 6 tsp
Sugar: 2 to 3 tsp
Beer: 5 to 6 tsp
Fresh Chinese noodles: 1 lb
Chopped scallions: ¼ cup
Bean sprouts: ¼ cup
Cucumber shreds: ¼ cup
Chopped garlic: 1/6 cup
Chili: if desired
Direction:
Heat the oil in the wok. When the oil is ready, add the garlic and then the pork. Fry briefly.
Blend the bean sauce with the beer.
Add the mixed sauce, sprinkle the sugar into the wok and cook, stir until the sauce is piping hot (about 10 mins).
Turn off the heat and start to boil the noodles.
Drain the noodles thoroughly and place into a bowl.
Spoon over the sauce. Garnish with the scallions, bean sprouts and cucumber shreds.
Serves: 1 Servings.
@Darwin – your recipe sounds a lot better than the one I googled!
@rooeytoo – I suspect that both taste pretty good. Why not give them each a try? If it doesn’t work out, then I am sure that Town Dog would happily help deal with the leftovers.
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