CLOSE

Always on an important and never-ending mission to figure out how to eat more noodles that aren’t always the same, when I came across this recipe on YouTube I was so excited to try them. This pasta dish might look on the outside like a regular Bolognese, but inside (where our feelings live) we’re talking spicy, garlicky, Sambal Oelek-y goodness that is anything but regular.

These noodles have a sauce that simmers for a bit of time and uses ground pork, but you can sub ground turkey, chicken, or even beef if you prefer. I love the flavor of ground pork in this and find it locally at Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery or at Trader Joe’s and Lidl.

The flavor base of the sauce is utterly delicious with lots of ginger, garlic, and brown sugar. The ingredients cook slowly to meld the flavors and the noodles soak up all the sauce, as all good noodles should.

Spicy Sambal Pork Noodles

PREP: 15 MINUTES COOK: 30 MINUTES SERVES: 4INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground pork

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced or grated

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 large sprigs basil, plus more for serving

¼ cup sambal oelek

¼ cup plain rice vinegar

¼ cup soy sauce

1 ounce dried ramen noodles (or any long noodles you like!)

1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the pork with a drizzle of oil. Let the pork sit for a few minutes at a time to achieve a brown crust on some bits, breaking the meat up with a spoon as you stir.

When the pork is cooked, add in the garlic, ginger, sugar, and tomato paste. Stir to combine for one minute until the tomato paste coats the pork.Add the sambal oelek, soy sauce, rice vinegar, basil sprigs, and one cup of water to the pork mixture. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce.

Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package directions to al dente.After about 15 minutes, toss the noodles in the sauce with the butter for 1-2 minutes until well-coated. Taste, and add a bit more soy sauce if you’d like.If the sauce seems dry, add water ¼ cup at a time until it is saucy to your liking.Serve immediately with extra basil leaves on top. Enjoy!

I use a Microplane or other handheld small grater to grate the garlic and ginger directly over the pork as I’m browning it – no prep or mess!

Sambal Oelek is a chili garlic paste found in lots of grocery stores. Look for a jar in the Asian foods section with a green lid – usually close to Sriracha.

This is a really, really good meal prep sauce. Make it in advance (or double batch and freeze half!) and it’ll keep in the fridge for several days. Before serving, reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, toss with cooked pasta, and serve.

Read or Share this story: https://ift.tt/37CuZf1