Zha jiang mian (noodles with meat sauce) - chinese grandma

Ingredients

• 4 cups napa cabbage (green parts roughly cut, white parts 1/4″ dice)
• 1 medium zucchini (about 1 cup, 1/4″ dice)
• 2 slices ginger (optional)
• 1/3 cup ground bean sauce (found in Asian markets; Koon Chun with the yellow and blue label is a good one)
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce (found in Asian markets; Koon Chun with the yellow and blue label is a good one)
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with 3 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon pure sesame oil
• Fresh zha jiang noodles (buy at an Asian store, in the refrigerated or frozen section) or udon noodles
• Cucumber (thin-skinned Persian are ideal, but small kirby cucumbers are also fine)