Drunken-style noodles

Tender pork shoulder, vibrant vegetables, and sweet pineapple tossed in a glossy, tangy sauce. Quick and easy, it’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners packed with bold flavours and satisfying textures. [/row]

By Sam Holland
From Saturday Kitchen

This drunken-style noodle dish scores a Nutri-Score B, reflecting a balanced composition featuring lean pork, fresh vegetables, and a tangy pineapple-soy sauce. It’s a nutritious and flavourful choice suitable for quick meals.

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Ingredients

For the sauce

• 4 tbsp ketchup
• 3 tbsp pineapple juice (from pineapple slices tin)
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp cornflour

For the noodles

• 2 pork shoulder steaks, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 red pepper, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 red onion, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 3 garlic cloves, grated
• 1 red chilli, finely sliced
• 1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger, grated
• 1 x 225g tin pineapple slices, roughly chopped (in juice)
• 200g straight-to-wok egg noodles
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 spring onions, thinly sliced, to garnish

Method

1. Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix until cornflour fully dissolves with no lumps.
2. Season pork slices with salt and pepper.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Add pork and stir-fry for 2 minutes until golden brown. Remove pork with a slotted spoon and set aside.
4. Add red pepper and red onion to the wok. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, then add garlic, chilli, and ginger. Cook for a further 30 seconds. Add more oil if needed.
5. Return pineapple, sauce, and pork to the wok. Cook for 1 minute until sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
6. Add noodles and toss to coat and warm through. Garnish with spring onions and serve.

Additional Notes

• Use fresh spring onions for garnish to add a mild, crisp finish.
• Adjust the chilli quantity depending on your heat tolerance.
• For an extra kick, add a splash of fish sauce or lime juice at the end.

Suggested Wine Pairing

• Majestic: The Joy Road Riesling – A lightly off-dry Riesling with vibrant acidity and stone fruit notes, perfect for balancing the sweet and savoury elements in drunken-style noodles.
• Tesco: Tesco Finest Pinot Grigio – Crisp and refreshing with citrus and green apple aromas, this wine complements the pork and tangy pineapple flavours beautifully.
• Sainsbury’s: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Sauvignon Blanc – Zesty and herbaceous, it cuts through the richness of the stir-fry while enhancing the ginger and chilli spice.

What can you serve with this

1. Cucumber salad: Adds a cool, crisp contrast to the warm, spicy noodles.
2. Steamed jasmine rice: Balances the rich flavours and provides a comforting base.
3. Simple stir-fried greens: Lightly cooked bok choy or broccoli pairs well with the noodles, adding freshness and crunch.

FAQs for Drunken-style Noodles

• What are drunken-style noodles? A Thai-inspired stir-fry featuring pork, sweet pineapple, and savoury sauce served with noodles, known for its balanced sweet, sour, and spicy flavours.
• Can I substitute pork with chicken or beef? Yes, both chicken and beef work well as alternatives for the stir-fry.
• What noodles work best? Straight-to-wok egg noodles are ideal, but fresh rice noodles or even spaghetti can be used.
• How do I store leftovers? Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat thoroughly before eating.
• Is this dish gluten-free? It is dairy-free and nut-free but to make it gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Nutri-score Health Check

This drunken-style noodle recipe scores a Nutri-Score B for its lean protein from pork and generous vegetable content balanced with a moderate amount of sauce. It offers a wholesome, flavourful meal option suitable for a nutritious weeknight dinner.

Positive Factors

• Lean pork shoulder provides protein essential for muscle repair.
• Red peppers, onions, and spring onions contribute vitamins and antioxidants.
• Pineapple juice adds natural sweetness and vitamin C.

Negative Factors

• Soy sauce contains sodium, which can add to salt intake.
• Vegetable oil adds calories, so use in moderation for weight control.

The Nutri-Score is automatically calculated from the recipe ingredients and provides a nutritional guide only.