Aromatic Soy Sauce Noodles - Andrew Zimmern

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup dark soy sauce
• One 1 1/2-inch piece of peeled fresh ginger, crushed, plus 1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
• 1/3 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise pod
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
• 1 1/4 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, plus more for serving
• 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice wine vinegar, plus more for serving
• 1 garlic clove, sliced
• 1 pound fresh or dried thin egg noodles—cooked, drained and cooled
• 1 small bunch of scallions, thinly sliced
• Chile paste or hot sauce, for serving