Zha Jiang Mian (Easy 20 Minute Fried Sauce Noodles)
Zha Jiang Mian, often translated as Fried Sauce Noodles, is a famous northern Chinese noodle dish known for its bold, savory flavors. If you love Chinese comfort food, this recipe is a must-try.
This post is sponsored by GloryLand.
Looking for more easy noodle recipes? Check out my Chicken Chow Mein, Beef Yaki Udon Stir Fry, Easy Beef Lo Main, and Dan Dan Noodles Recipe.
What Is Zha Jiang Mian
Zha Jiang Mian literally translates to “fried sauce noodles.” The “sauce” is made by stir-frying minced pork (or sometimes beef) with fermented soybean paste and sweet bean sauce (tianmianjiang), then simmering until thick and glossy. The sauce is spooned generously over noodles and served with fresh julienned vegetables like cucumber, radish, or bean sprouts for balance.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Meal-Prep Friendly – the sauce stores well and tastes even better the next day!
- Perfect for Families – you can easily make a big batch that’s perfect for sharing.
- Easy, Minimal Effort – this dish comes together in 20 minutes.
Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make the best Zha Jian Miang (Fried Sauce Noodles):
- Noodles: I use GloryLand Brown Rice and Millet Noodles – all of their noodles are vegan and gluten-free. It also contains 6 grams of protein per serving. The best part? It only takes 4 minutes to cook!
- Ground Meat
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Scallion
- Sweet Bean Sauce
- Fermented Soy Bean Paste
- Shaoxing Wine
- Soy Sauce
- Water or Chicken Broth
- Cucumber
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Zha Jiang Mian:
- Cook the Noodles: Boil the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat oil in a large pan or wok. Add garlic, ginger, scallion and fry for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook the Meat: Add ground meat and break into smaller pieces. Then add Shaoxing wine.
- Add the Sauce: Pour the sauce in and bring it to a simmer. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
How to Serve Zha Jiang Mian
Place noodles in bowls, ladle sauce generously on top, and garnish with fresh vegetables like cucumber, carrots, and green onion. Mix together and serve immediately.
Substitutions
- Noodles – you can also use buckwheat noodles, udon, rice noodles, or even spaghetti.
- Pork – substitute for ground beef, chicken, turkey, or tofu and mushroom for vegetarian option.
How to Store and Reheat
For Storing: Keep the sauce separate from the noodles. Store sauce in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: Microwave the sauce until warm. Cook fresh noodles or reheat refrigerated noodles in the microwave until warm.
Top Tips for Success
Fry the Aromatics First – Sauté the garlic, ginger, and scallion first to bring out the aroma.
Customize to Taste – Adjust seasoning based on your taste preference. You can also add chili paste or chili oil for spiciness.
Don’t skip fresh toppings – Crispy vegetables like cucumber and carrot pairs really well with the richness of the sauce.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Zha Jiang Mian (Easy 20 Minute Fried Sauce Noodles)
Ingredients
- 4 GloryLand Brown Rice & Millet Noodle Cakes, *See Note 1
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- ½ lb ground pork, *See Note 2
- ½ lb ground chicken
- 5 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tsp ginger, minced
- 2 scallion, chopped, separate white and green parts
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- ½ cup sweet bean sauce , or sweet flour sauce
- 2 tbsp fermented soy bean paste
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 cup water, or chicken broth
- 1 cucumber, julienned, for garnish
Instructions
Cook the Noodles
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add noodles into the boiling water and cook according to package instructions. If you are using GloryLand Brown Rice & Millet Noodles, the boiling time takes 4 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked noodles to a bowl of ice water or rinse them under running cold water to stop the cooking. Drain noodles and set aside.
Make the Meat Sauce
- In a bowl, add sweet bean sauce, soy bean sauce, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and water/broth. Whisk everything together until well combined. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil in a wok or pan over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and white parts of scallion, sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground pork and ground chicken. Break them into little pieces and stir-fry until browned and crumbly.
- Add Shaoxing wine and cook until the water has evaporated.
- Stir in the pre-mixed sauce and bring it to a simmer. Let it simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
To Serve
- Divide the noodles into 4 separate bowls. Ladle the meat sauce generously over the top. Garnish with cucumber and green onion. Mix everything together and serve immediately.
