15 Minute Chili Garlic Noodles

Ingredients

• 8 oz wheat noodles (preferably Shanxi Dao Xiao Mian; tagliatelle, linguine, or fettuccine as Western substitutes)
• 8 oz ground pork (beef or turkey also work)
• 1 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
• salt (to taste)
• 2 shallots (thinly sliced, cut against the grain)
• 2 tbsp garlic (finely minced, about 6 cloves)
• 2 tsp ginger (finely minced)
• 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes; substitute sweet paprika with a pinch of cayenne)
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp Chinese black vinegar (also called Zhenjiang/Chinkiang vinegar; substitute equal parts balsamic, red wine vinegar, and water)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 0.5 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 0.125 tsp MSG (optional)
• 0.5 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds (for garnish)
• 2 green onions (thinly sliced, for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Combine oyster sauce, black vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, MSG, and sugar in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.

2. 2

   Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

3. 3

   Add 1 tablespoon neutral oil to a saute pan over medium-high heat.

4. 4

   Add ground pork, season with salt, and break up with a spatula. Cook until well browned and slightly crispy, about 3-4 minutes.

5. 5

   Remove pork with a slotted spoon, leaving rendered fat in the pan.

6. 6

   If needed, add more oil to the pan. Add shallots, garlic, and ginger with a pinch of salt. Cook until garlic just starts to turn slightly brown.

7. 7

   Add gochugaru to the aromatics and stir for 1-2 minutes to bloom in the hot oil.

8. 8

   Add cooked pork and sauce to the pan. Stir until combined.

9. 9

   For a more saucy consistency, add a splash of the noodle cooking water.

10. 10

    Cook noodles according to package directions and add to the pan. Toss to combine and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

11. 11

    Serve garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Notes

For a more saucy consistency, add a splash of the noodle cooking water before tossing.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• noodles
• spicy
• pork
• quick
• stir-fried
• 15-minute-meal