Ants Climbing a Tree (Ma Yi Shang Shu)
Glossy glass noodles tangled with spicy pork mince, a Sichuan home favourite named for the bits of meat clinging to the noodles.
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.20 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 354kcal
- 13.8gcarbs
- 6.7gof which sugars
- 24.5gfat
- 8.2gsaturates
- 19.3gprotein
- 3.3gfibre
- 2.6gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the glass noodles in a large bowl, cover with hot water and leave for 10 minutes until soft and slippery. Drain and snip a few times with scissors so they are easier to eat.
10 min - 2
Heat the sunflower oil in a wok over a high heat. Add the pork mince and stir fry for 4 to 5 minutes, pressing and breaking it up, until it is browned and some bits are crisp.
4 min 30 s - 3
Push the pork to the side. Add the chilli bean paste to the oil and fry for 30 seconds until the oil turns deep red, then stir in the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds.
1 min - 4
Splash in the Shaoxing wine, then add both soy sauces, the sugar and the hot water. Bring to a boil.
- 5
Tip in the noodles and toss to coat. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the noodles have soaked up almost all the sauce and look glossy.
5 min - 6
Stir in the white pepper, sesame oil and most of the spring onions. Serve in bowls with the rest of the spring onions on top.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
