Flavorful Stir-Fried Noodles
Crafting Delicious Stir-Fried Noodles at Home
Tired of the same old instant noodles? Elevate your ramen game with this exciting stir-fried noodle recipe! It offers a delightful twist with savory meat and a perfectly balanced sauce, transforming a simple meal into something extraordinary.
Main Ingredients- 1 pack of ramen noodles
- 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1-2 shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- A small amount of carrot, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup ground pork
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (for pork seasoning)
- Pinch of salt (for pork seasoning)
- Pinch of black pepper (for pork seasoning)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
Stir-Fry Sauce- 4 tbsp tonkatsu sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp corn syrup (or honey)
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise (for garnish)
- 4 tbsp tonkatsu sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp corn syrup (or honey)
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise (for garnish)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by peeling and thinly slicing the onion. Aim for consistent, thin strips for even cooking.
Step 2
Prepare the shiitake mushrooms by removing the tough stems and slicing them into bite-sized pieces. This ensures they cook evenly and add a wonderful earthy flavor.
Step 3
Wash and peel the carrot, then slice it into thin matchsticks, similar in thickness to the onion. This adds a lovely color and a slight crunch.
Step 4
In a small bowl, whisk together the tonkatsu sauce, soy sauce, and corn syrup. This creates the flavorful base for your stir-fried noodles. Taste and adjust sweetness or saltiness if needed.
Step 5
To the ground pork, add 2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix well until it forms a slightly sticky consistency. This helps tenderize the pork and allows it to bind with the sauce.
Step 6
To ensure the cornstarch is evenly distributed on the ground pork, place it in a bowl, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and gently shake it. This is a quick and effective method.
Step 7
Heat a frying pan over medium heat with a generous amount of cooking oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Then, add the cornstarch-coated ground pork. Break up any clumps with your spatula and stir-fry until the pork is cooked through.
Step 8
Once the pork is mostly cooked, lightly season it with a pinch of salt and black pepper. This enhances the pork’s natural flavor.
Step 9
Choose thin ramen noodles for the best texture in stir-fried dishes. Boil only the noodles in water according to package directions, but slightly undercook them. Drain them thoroughly and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. This prevents them from becoming mushy.
Step 10
In a separate frying pan, heat some oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and carrots and stir-fry until they begin to soften and turn translucent. Add the cooked pork back into the pan, along with another clove of minced garlic (optional, if you like extra garlic flavor), and a tiny pinch of salt and pepper. Stir-fry everything together.
Step 11
Finally, add the sliced shiitake mushrooms to the pan and stir-fry with the other ingredients until the mushrooms are tender and fragrant. Be careful not to overcook them.
Step 12
Add the drained ramen noodles to the pan with the vegetables and pork. Gently toss everything together to combine.
Step 13
Pour about two-thirds of the prepared stir-fry sauce over the noodles and ingredients. Stir-fry quickly and vigorously for about 1-2 minutes, ensuring the sauce coats everything evenly. This rapid cooking helps the noodles absorb the flavor without getting soggy.
Step 14
Transfer the stir-fried noodles to a serving plate. Prepare the remaining sauce and mayonnaise by placing them in small squeeze bottles or bags with a tiny corner snipped off. Drizzle these artfully over the noodles. For a beautiful presentation, garnish with imitation crab sticks (like Kani kama) and blanched spinach. Your special stir-fried noodles are ready to enjoy!
