Sticky honey pork with noodles

Introduction

Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles is a delightful and flavorful dish that strikes a perfect balance between sweet and savory. The tender pork, coated in a sticky honey glaze, paired with perfectly cooked noodles, creates a satisfying and filling meal that can easily become a family favorite. This dish is not only delicious but also versatile and quick to prepare, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or even casual weekend dinners. Whether you are an experienced home cook or someone just looking to experiment with new flavors, Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles offers a fantastic mix of flavors and textures that will leave everyone craving more.

In this article, we’ll explore some tips to help you master this dish, including common pitfalls to avoid, fun facts about the ingredients, and useful insights to enhance your cooking experience.

Sticky honey pork with noodles

Recipe by Laica LimCourse: MainCuisine: Asian Fusion

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

• 
  For the pork:
  1 Kilo pork tenderloin or pork shoulder, thinly sliced

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• ¼ cup honey

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1-inch piece ginger, grated

• 1 red chili, finely chopped (optional, for heat)

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for frying)

• 1 Cup of water

• 1 tablespoon corn starch

• For the Noodles:

• 250g egg noodles or rice noodles

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 2 spring garlic, chopped

• 2 spring onions, chopped

• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

• 1 carrot, julienned

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 carrot

• 1 cabbage

• custard marrow or sayote

• salt and pepper

• Grean beans

• For Garnish:

• Toasted sesame seeds (optional)

• Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

• Fresh basil

Directions

• Marinate the Pork:
  – In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped chili. Mix well.
  – Add the thinly sliced pork to the marinade, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes, preferably longer for deeper flavor.
• Cook the Noodles:
  – Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  – In a large pan or wok, heat sesame oil over medium heat.
  – Add the chopped spring onions, sliced red bell pepper, and julienned carrot. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften.
  – Add the cooked noodles to the pan along with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and honey. Toss everything together until well combined. Set aside.
  – Heat vegetable oil in another large pan or wok over medium-high heat.
  – Add the marinated pork slices to the pan, spreading them out in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until the pork is browned and cooked through.
  – Pour any remaining marinade into the pan and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky.
• Cook the Pork:
  – Heat vegetable oil in another large pan or wok over medium-high heat.
  – Add the marinated pork slices to the pan, spreading them out in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until the pork is browned and cooked through.
  – Pour any remaining marinade into the pan and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky.
• Assemble the Dish:
  – Divide the cooked noodles among plates.
  – Top with the sticky honey pork.
  – Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro.
• Tips:
  – Adjust the amount of chili to control the heat level.
  – For extra crunch, add some chopped peanuts or cashews as a garnish.

Tips for Making Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles

1. Choosing the Right Cut of Pork: For the best results, it’s essential to use a tender cut of pork, such as pork tenderloin or pork loin. These cuts remain juicy and tender when stir-fried and won’t become tough like other cuts of pork might when cooked quickly. If you’re in a pinch, lean pork shoulder can work, but ensure that it’s sliced thinly to avoid any toughness.
2. Mastering the Sauce Balance: The key to the sticky honey glaze is balancing the sweetness of honey with the salty depth of soy sauce and the tanginess of rice vinegar. Adjusting these components to your taste is crucial. If you prefer a less sweet dish, you can reduce the honey slightly, or for an extra kick, add a dash more vinegar.
3. Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh garlic and ginger elevate the flavor of the dish. While bottled versions can save time, using freshly minced garlic and grated ginger gives the sauce a more vibrant, robust flavor. It’s also best to use high-quality honey, as it will directly affect the sweetness and consistency of the glaze.
4. Cook the Pork Properly: Overcooking the pork can lead to dry, tough meat. To avoid this, make sure you slice the pork into thin, even pieces so they cook quickly and evenly. It’s also helpful to cook the pork in batches to prevent overcrowding the pan, which can cause the meat to steam instead of brown.
5. Noodle Choices Matter: While egg noodles are often used, don’t hesitate to try different noodles like rice noodles, soba, or even udon. Each type of noodle brings its own texture and flavor to the dish. Just make sure not to overcook the noodles, as mushy noodles can detract from the dish’s overall texture.

Do’s and Don’ts in Cooking Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles

Do:

• Do marinate the pork: Even if you’re pressed for time, a short marination period of at least 10 minutes will allow the meat to absorb more flavors from the sauce, making it even more flavorful.
• Do garnish liberally: Fresh cilantro, spring onions, and sesame seeds not only add color to the dish but also enhance the overall flavor profile. These finishing touches provide a fresh contrast to the richness of the pork and noodles.
• Do prepare all your ingredients ahead of time: Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles is a quick stir-fry dish, so it’s important to have all the ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking to ensure smooth cooking and prevent burning.

Don’t:

• Don’t skip the resting period for pork: After cooking the pork, let it rest briefly. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.
• Don’t oversaturate the noodles with sauce: The goal is to lightly coat the noodles with the sticky sauce, not to drench them. Too much sauce can lead to soggy noodles and an imbalanced flavor.
• Don’t rush the sauce reduction: Give the sauce enough time to thicken and become sticky. Rushing this step can result in a runny sauce that doesn’t coat the pork and noodles properly.

Fun Fact

Did you know that honey has been used as a natural sweetener for over 4,000 years? It was highly prized by ancient Egyptians and Greeks not just for its sweetness, but for its medicinal properties as well. Honey is packed with antioxidants and antibacterial qualities, which is why it has been used in everything from food preservation to skincare. When used in cooking, honey not only adds a natural sweetness but also helps create that beautiful sticky texture that makes dishes like Sticky Honey Pork irresistible. Its high viscosity also allows it to cling to ingredients, making it a perfect addition to glazes and sauces. That’s a good fun fact to know about Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles!

Conclusion

Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles is more than just a simple dish—it’s a delicious fusion of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors that comes together in a wonderfully satisfying meal. With tender pork coated in a luscious honey glaze and noodles tossed in the flavorful sauce, this dish delivers on both taste and texture. By following a few key tips—choosing the right pork cut, balancing the sauce, and cooking everything properly—you can ensure that every bite is perfect. Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles would be a great dinner!

Whether you’re cooking for your family or guests, Sticky Honey Pork with Noodles is a crowd-pleaser that’s as easy to make as it is to enjoy. And with a little creativity, you can adapt this recipe to suit your preferences, making it your go-to for any occasion.

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