Hot and Sour Sweet Potato Noodles (Suan La Fen)

Suan la fen is the late-night noodle of Chongqing, sold from steaming carts long after the rest of the city has gone quiet. The noodles are made from sweet potato starch, which gives them a remarkable chew and a faintly translucent glow, and they are sold dried in Asian markets, sometimes labeled as glass noodles. It is the dish you crave after a long day, and it delivers on every level.

Chewy glass noodles in a hot and sour broth

The broth is hot and sour in equal measure, with chili oil, black vinegar, and crushed Sichuan peppercorns, plus preserved greens and crushed peanuts for salt and crunch. It is the kind of bowl that clears your sinuses, warms your hands, and finishes too quickly. The crushed peanuts are not optional garnish, they are part of the bowl’s soul, so keep the vinegar handy at the table, since the sour is meant to be adjusted to taste.

Craving more? Explore all Sichuan Kitchen recipes.

Want the full story on the sauces behind this dish? See our Beginner’s Guide to Asian Sauces & Seasonings.

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