Mongolian Hot Pot

Ingredients

 * 3 lb Boneless lean lamb
 * 4 oz Bean thread noodles
 * 1/2 lb Spinach
 * 1/2 lb Chinese cabbage
 * 1 qt Chicken stock
 * 1 ts Finely chopped ginger root
 * 2 tb Finely chopped scallions
 * 1 ts Minced garlic
 * 1 tb Finely chopped cilantro

DIPPING SAUCE


 * 2 tb Sesamepaste-=OR=- peanut butter
 * 1 tb Light soy sauce
 * 1 tb Rice wine or dry sherry
 * 2 ts Chili bean sauce
 * 1 tb Sugar
 * 1 tb Hot water

Directions
Using a cleaver or sharp knife, slice the lamb into very thin slices. Soak the noodles in warm water for 5 minutes, then drain them and cut them into 5-inch lengths. Separate the spinach leaves from the stalks and wash them well. Discard the stalks. Cut the Chinese cabbage into 3-inch pieces.

Combine all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in a small bowl and mix them well. Each guest should have his or her own small portion of dipping sauce and a plate containing lamb, spinach and Chinese cabbage. When you are ready to begin, bring the stock to a boil and light the fondue. Ladle the stock into the fondue pot and put the ginger, scallions, garlic and coriander into the stock.

Each person selects a piece of food and cooks it quickly in the pot. When all the meat and vegetables have been eaten, add the noodles to the pot, let them heat through, then ladle the soup into soup bowls.

This dish also works successfully with other foods such as steak, fish balls, oysters, shrimp, squid, mushrooms and lettuce, although it will no longer be a Mongolian Hot Pot, but more like the Cantonese Chrysanthemum Pot.