Shanghai Fried Noodles (Cu Chao Mian)

Ingredients

• 6 oz boneless pork (pork shoulder, butt or loin, sliced into thin strips)
• 0.75 tsp cornstarch (for marinade)
• 0.5 tsp light soy sauce (for marinade)
• 0.125 tsp dark soy sauce (for marinade)
• 1 tsp Shaoxing wine (or dry cooking sherry)
• 0.125 tsp sugar (for marinade)
• 3 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or avocado oil; divided)
• 8 shiitake mushrooms (fresh or dried, thinly sliced)
• 1 lb Japanese-style udon noodles (thick wheat noodles)
• 2.5 tsp light soy sauce (for stir-fry)
• 2.5 tsp dark soy sauce (for stir-fry)
• 0.25 tsp sugar (for stir-fry)
• 1 bunch choy sum or baby bok choy (leafy greens)

Steps

1. 1

   In a small bowl, mix together the sliced pork and marinade ingredients: cornstarch, 1/2 tsp light soy sauce, 1/8 tsp dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and 1/8 tsp sugar.

2. 2

   Set the marinated pork aside while you prepare the other ingredients (slicing mushrooms and greens).

3. 3

   Heat a wok over high heat until it just starts to smoke.

4. 4

   Add 1 tablespoon of neutral oil around the perimeter of the wok.

5. 5

   Add the marinated pork to the wok and stir-fry until browned.

6. 6

   Reduce the heat to medium, remove the pork from the wok, and set it aside.

7. 7

   Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the wok and stir-fry the sliced mushrooms for 2 minutes.

8. 8

   Gently break up the udon noodles with your hands and add them to the wok with the mushrooms.

9. 9

   Add the 2 1/2 tsp light soy sauce, 2 1/2 tsp dark soy sauce, and 1/4 tsp sugar to the wok.

10. 10

    Stir-fry everything together until the noodles are evenly coated and reach a deep brown color. If the color is too light, add a small amount of additional dark soy sauce.

11. 11

    Add the leafy greens (choy sum or baby bok choy) and the cooked pork back into the wok.

12. 12

    Mix with the noodles and stir-fry until the greens are just wilted, then serve immediately.

Notes

To reconstitute dried shiitake mushrooms, soak in hot water for at least 2 hours or overnight. You can substitute pork with boneless skinless chicken thighs if preferred. Some people enjoy adding a few drops of Chinese black vinegar right before eating.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• stir-fried
• noodles
• pork
• mushrooms
• bok choy
• quick
• dinner