Style Spicy Mix (Mala Ban) — Detailed Recipe

Linfen-Style Spicy Mix (Mala Ban) — Detailed Recipe

Linfen Mala Ban is a popular street-style dish from Shanxi Province. It features a colorful combination of vegetables, tofu products, and noodles mixed with a bold, aromatic, spicy sauce. Compared with the northeastern “mala ban,” the Linfen version emphasizes fragrant chili oil, garlic, and sesame flavors with a balanced sweet–spicy–savory profile.

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Ingredients

Main Ingredients (Choose 6–10 varieties)

Common combinations:

• Lettuce or cabbage leaves

• Bean sprouts

• Potato slices or potato strips

• Enoki mushrooms

• Wood ear mushrooms

• Tofu skin (bean curd sheets)

• Tofu puffs or fried tofu cubes

• Quail eggs

• Fish balls or meatballs (optional)

• Instant noodles or sweet potato noodles

• Lotus root slices

• Sausage slices (optional)

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Seasoning Sauce Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons chili oil (homemade or store-bought)

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar

• 1 tablespoon sesame paste (diluted with a bit of warm water)

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1–2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorn oil (or crushed peppercorns)

• 1 tablespoon minced garlic

• ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

• A handful of chopped scallions and cilantro

Optional:

• 1 teaspoon oyster sauce

• ½ teaspoon chili flakes

• A splash of chili crisp for extra aroma

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Instructions

1. Prepare All Ingredients

Wash and cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
Separate tofu products and noodles for easy blanching.

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2. Blanch the Ingredients Separately

To maintain texture:

1. Boil water in a pot.

2. Blanch ingredients one category at a time:

   • Hard vegetables (lotus root, potatoes): 3–4 minutes

   • Mushrooms: 1–2 minutes

   • Green vegetables: 10–20 seconds

   • Tofu products: 30–60 seconds

   • Noodles: until just cooked

3. Remove each ingredient and place in a large bowl.

4. Drain well to avoid thinning the sauce.

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3. Make the Mala Ban Sauce

In a mixing bowl, combine:

• Chili oil

• Soy sauce

• Dark soy sauce

• Sesame paste (smooth and diluted)

• Vinegar

• Sugar

• Sichuan peppercorn oil

• Salt

• Minced garlic

• Sesame seeds

• Scallions & cilantro

Whisk until smooth and fragrant.

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4. Mix Everything Together

• Add all blanched ingredients into a big mixing bowl.

• Pour the spicy sauce over them.

• Gently toss to coat everything evenly — the vegetables, tofu, and noodles should be fully covered in the sauce.

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5. Adjust Flavor

Taste and adjust:

• More chili oil → spicier

• More vinegar → tangier

• More sesame paste → thicker & nuttier

• More soy sauce → saltier

Linfen style tends to be:
aromatic, slightly sweet, moderately spicy, and very garlicky.

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6. Serve

Transfer the mixed ingredients onto a large plate or individual bowls.
Top with:

• Extra chili oil

• Crushed peanuts

• More sesame seeds

• Fresh cilantro

Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

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Tips for Authentic Linfen Flavor

• Use freshly fried chili oil with strong aroma.

• Garlic should be minced finely and added raw for sharp fragrance.

• Don’t skip sesame paste — it gives the signature coating texture.

• Blanching ingredients separately ensures everything stays crisp and bright.

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