Beijing-style Noodles (Zha Jiang Mian)

Name: Beijing-style Noodles (Zha Jiang Mian)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 tbsp soybean paste; 2 tbsp sweet bean paste (or hoisin sauce)*; 2 tsp dark soy sauce; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp Chinese Shaoxing wine; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 400g (14 oz) pork mince; 200g (7 oz) fresh mushrooms , finely chopped; ¼ tsp ground white pepper; 1 tbsp grated ginger; 4 cloves of garlic, grated; 1 whole star anise; 3 tsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 1 tbsp water; 600g (1 lb 5 oz) fresh Hokkien or egg noodles; Garnishes; 1 Lebanese cucumber, cut into 8cm (roughly 3”) matchsticks; 1 carrot, peeled, cut into 8cm (roughly 3”) matchsticks; 2 spring onions (scallions), trimmed, cut into 8cm (roughly 3”) matchsticks