Braised Pork Noodles for long life

Now that we have just celebrated the Chinese New Year and ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse, noodles were — and still are! — part of the celebration once again, and we are likely to serve noodles many, such as this more times over during the year.

But it does not have to be stir-fried birthday noodles, Lomi, or Mami all the time. It can be a rich and flavorful noodle dish, such as this Classic Braised Pork Noodles of Good Life, a recipe developed by Chef Jackie Ang Po.

The broth, which draws its umami flavors from shiitake mushrooms, star anise, and oyster sauce working with dark soy sauce and cooking wine, goes perfectly with the firm bite of the egg noodles.

And, yes, though restaurant level in taste, it can be made in the comfort of your own home.

Classic Braised Pork Noodles

Ingredients:

 For the pork sauce:

2 tbsps. HeartMate Canola Oil

1 kg. ground pork

1 pc. onion, minced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 stalk leeks, sliced

1 thumb-sized segment ginger, sliced

1 pack Jolly tomato paste

2 tbsps. hot bean paste (optional, for heat)

4 tbsps. Good Life Oyster Sauce

1/2 cup dark soy sauce

3 tbsps. cooking wine

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup dried shiitake mushrooms, sliced and rehydrated

4 cups water + reserved mushroom water

3 pcs. star anise

Good Life Egg Noodles

For serving:

Chili garlic

Hard-boiled eggs, halved

Bok choy (Taiwanese pechay), blanched

Procedure:

1. Heat HeartMate Canola Oil in a pan over medium heat. Add ground pork and cook until browned. Remove from pan and set aside.

2. In the same pan, with the same oil, sauté onion, garlic, leeks, and ginger until fragrant. Add Jolly tomato paste and hot bean paste. Cook briefly to deepen the flavor.

3. Return pork to the pan. Add Good Life Oyster Sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, and sugar. Mix well.

4. Add mushrooms and water (including mushroom soaking liquid). Place star anise inside a tea bag (or spice pouch) and add to the pan. Simmer until the sauce thickens and becomes rich and flavorful.

5. Prepare Good Life Egg Noodles according to package instructions. Drain well.

6. Transfer cooked noodles to a bowl. Top generously with braised pork sauce. Garnish with bok choy, hard-boiled eggs, and chili garlic.