Braised Pork Steak Noodle Soup

The soul of this Braised Pork Steak Noodle Soup is the comforting chicken broth and the rich flavours of spring onion and soy sauce used for the pork steak. This recipe is from the original Shanghainese cuisine. As one of the traditional noodles in Shanghai, locals eat this dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.     

The braised pork steak can be the topping of noodles and a side dish for a rice meal. It takes about 30 minutes to cook this noodle soup.

What are the main ingredients?

Pork steak

I use pork loin to make the braised pork steak. The shop assistant in the German supermarkets can cut the steak in any thickness for me. I always require about half a centimeter thick. It takes less time to cook, and the steaks won’t be chewy after cooking. Besides, the steaks can soak the sauce better.

Pork cuts such as Blade pork steak, pork chop, or pork tenderloin are suitable for this recipe. 

Scallions

I need a bunch of scallions for cooking the pork steaks. Scallions have long leafy green stems and their white stems do not bulge out. They have a sharp and peppery flavour. 

Noodle

There are many types of noodles in China. They differ from each other based on ingredients and the production methods. For this recipe, I use the dried thin noodles that cook up quickly.  

Chicken broth

For this quick recipe, I use ready-made chicken broth. You can also use a self-made chicken broth, but it could take hours to prepare. In my case, sometimes I use the self-made sparerib soup left from the other dishes. 

Vegetable toppings

I prefer to baby bok choy for this recipe since they have tender leaves. They are also much sweeter than the usual bok choy. 

How to cook Braised Pork Steak Noodle Soup

Braised pork steak

Wash the pork steaks and pat dry well. I use the kitchen paper to absorb extra water. If the steak is too thick, you can use a meat tenderizer to soften the fibers. This process makes the meat easier to chew and digest.  

Heat the oil over low-medium in a frying pan. Place the pork steaks next to each other on the pan. Do not stack them together. I fry them on both sides until the meat turns white. Then, add soy sauce, granulated sugar, cooking wine, and scallions. Now I turn the heat to medium-high. Cook the steak until the sauce gets sticky.  

Cook noodles 

Boil a pot of water and cook the noodle according to the instruction. Do not cook the dried noodles in the soup. The starch of the noodles will change the soup flavour and the consistency of the soup. So, the proper way is to cook noodles in a pot of clean water.

Blanch vegetable 

Dirt and sediment are hidden between the leaves. I have to chop off the base of the bok choy and wash the leaves thoroughly. Then I use the water left from the noodle-cooking to blanch the bok choy for about one minute. 

Serve

Place the noodle in a bowl and pour the broth to cover the noodles. Then, top with the braised pork steak and the vegetables. Let the juice of the pork steaks mix in the soup. Season the noodle soup with salt, if necessary. I will add spicy oil to the soup as well.  

Tips for the recipe

You can use other vegetables for the toppings, such as spinach, mushrooms, or cabbages. 

Did you make the recipe?

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