Sichuan Malatang: Sizzling Recipes for Every Palate

If you’ve been looking for a fiery yet flavorful Chinese Asian food for your stomach and are tired of spending an hour cleaning up,  Sichuan Malatang is a hassle-free and satisfying alternative to daily meals.

This exclusive Malatang recipe is easier to make at home yourself and requires less than an hour to be served at the table. 

What is Malatang?

Malatang(麻辣燙, málàtàng) originated in Niuhua Town, Sichuan, China, it was created by boatmen and porters. To craft the dish’s distinctive spicy broth, they combined chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, salt, and various other spices. Until the base boils, add vegetables, meat, noodles, or potatoes into the mix pot, cooking everything together to produce Malatang.

Due to its simplicity and convenience, Malatang culture gradually spread throughout China. Even in recent decades, Chinese immigrant communities have introduced the Malatang recipe to the global stage. Central to Malatang’s allure is its soup base, which serves as the foundation of this beloved dish.

An excellent soup base not only elevates the overall taste but also ensures that the rich, savory flavors of the ingredients are fully released with every bite. Let’s learn about the specific ingredients cooked in Malatang and the process of its creation.

Common Malatang Ingredients

Malatang ingredients cover a wide range, including vegetables, sliced meats, noodles, mushrooms, and much more hot pot food. Essentially, Malatang components can be broken down into four main categories: proteins, vegetables, noodles, and spices.

Proteins: sliced beef, sliced pork, chicken, fish filet, shrimp, squids, sausages, tofu, quail egg, animal organs, or even blood cake.

Vegetables: broccoli, lettuce, watergrass, corn, mushroom, string bean, cabbage, Radish, and Onion.

Carbohydrates: white noodles, egg noodles, rice noodles, udon, bean thread, and rice.

Spices: star anise, bayleaves, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper seed, white pepper seed, cinnamon, dry chili pepper, Sichuan peppercorn, green peppercorn, ginger, garlic, Green Onion, and Cinnamon.

If you’re vegan, here’s the good news: the soup base is just spices, so it’s already vegan-friendly. Just pick from beans, tofu, or potatoes as meat substitutes. For those sensitive to gluten, gluten-free noodles are great alternatives as well.

Malatang Recipe: Soup Base & Assembling

Now, let’s discuss how to make the Malatang soup base and what is the easiest way to make it. 

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients for the broth:

Step 2: Stir-fry the dried spices(red peppercorn, green peppercorn, star anise, black pepper seeds, white pepper seeds, and dried chili pepper) with no oil needed until we smell the aroma. Then put all those stir-fried spices and the other dried spices above into a stew bag for use later.

Notice: For those who prefer milder flavors, it’s possible to use fewer dried chili peppers, black pepper, white pepper, cloves, and star anise. You can even skip the cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg altogether if you like.

Step 3: Use a soup pot and pour in the S.J. Red Chili Oil and Ox-oil then add all the basic spices(ginger, garlic, onion, green onion, and cilantro) into the pot to stir-fry (set on low heat) until you smell the aroma.

Step 4: Add S.J. Chili Bean Sauce in, then stir-fry the sauce for a couple of seconds. This move can carry the aroma out of the chili sauce, making the soup base taste even better as well.

Step 5: Pour the water, pork bone broth, or chicken broth with the stew bag we prepared earlier into the pot to boil for at least 30 minutes. (After the soup base boils, turn the heat to low.)

Step 6: Add salt and sugar, depending on how much salt and sweetness you like.

Step 7: Put all of those meats, seafood, vegetables, and noodles into the spicy soup base then cook it until well done. 

Step 8: Set all the main ingredients into a bowl. If you like more chopped garlic, chopped green onion, or cilantro, now it’s time to add it on top. Then enjoy it.

You might think, there are too many steps in this Malatang recipe, which is going to hit your mind a lot.

Well, here is a shortcut for you! The easiest way is to go through SIANG JI ASIA to order the Spicy Hot Pot Sauce / Mala Soup Base and other Asian sauces you need for Malatang soup base. 

Just need to use 300ml of Mala Soup Base mixed with 1500ml of pork bone broth or chicken broth, then you’ll get a savory Malatang soup base right away. This way could save a lot of time also the products from S.J. have a natural condiment, great customer service, and quick shipping.

We all know a good brand is the key to supporting our kitchen and business. 

To enjoy the right flavor of Malatang, start with SIANG JI ASIA today!
https://www.sjsauce.com/

Frequently Asked Questions on Malatang Recipe

Q: Can I make malatang without a specific ingredient mentioned?

A: Yes, but garlic, ginger, green onion, cilantro, star anise, dried chili, peppercorn, bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, chili bean sauce, and broth base are necessary.

Q: Is there a way to make malatang less spicy?

A: Absolutely, simply reduce the amounts of dried chili pepper, chili oil, and chili bean sauce to decrease the spice level. Adding a bit of milk is another effective method to cut down on the heat.

Q: How do I store leftover malatang?

A: The best way is to cook the quantity as we need, otherwise store the leftover malatang in the refrigerator and finish them in two days. (Please note that the storage time of malatang should not exceed 3 days, and cooked vegetables should be finished right away, all the vegetables and noodles shouldn’t be stored.)

Q: Does the brand of spices and sauce matter for malatang?

A: Yes, a good brand could affect the malatang and your business a lot. Plus, SIANG JI ASIA has wonderful customer service and quick shipping, from Red Chili Oil, Sichuan Peppercorn Oil, Crispy Chili Sesame Sauce, Chili Bean Sauce, and more, many condiments and sauces can be found here. 

Learn more about other Chinese condiments and recipes:
What is Doubanjiang Chili Bean Paste? Insider’s Buyer Guide
How to Make Stinky Tofu: The Ultimate Guide to Authentic Flavors