Udon noodles, pork tenderloin, and stir-fried vegetables in a wok
Try Asian flavors in a light lunch!
Udon noodles have long been on my list of “Top 5 noodles I want to try.” Yes, noodle lovers have lists like this too. 🙂 This Japanese noodle is readily available in larger supermarkets. I recently found it at Lidl. I already like the Combino brand (I usually buy their spaghetti, fusilli, and penne). I wasn’t disappointed with Combino udon noodles either. I’ll show you what a delicious lunch I conjured up from these 5-minute noodles, but first I have to admit that the noodles had actually been sitting in my pantry for months. That’s because I didn’t know what to make with it or how to prepare it. Then I finally got a proper wok, and since I had a new wok, why not try something new in it? I marinated some pork tenderloin in sesame oil and soy sauce with a little garlic and ginger, and then used it to christen my new wok. I added some sautéed vegetables and topped it off with cooked udon noodles to complete the colorful medley. Not only did the wok perform well, but the udon noodles also won me over. I will definitely buy more of these and bring you more udon noodle recipes. In the meantime, give this one a try!
What is udon noodles?
Udon noodles originated in Japan. According to the description, they are added to soups and used in stir-fries with roasted vegetables. If you search for them online, you will probably find thick, bizarre noodles, which are often pre-cooked. The udon noodles available at Lidl are not like that. On the one hand, it is thinner, and on the other hand, it is dry (not pre-cooked) and is not made from wheat flour (which is an appealing feature for me, because it is better absorbed from a dietary point of view). I may be wrong, but I have noticed that the pre-cooked versions are thick, but if you buy them dry, they are not as thick.
The Combino udon noodles were labeled as being made from durum wheat.
Udon noodles calories
There were 4 bundles in a bag of Lidl Combino udon noodles. One bag weighs 300 grams, so one bundle weighs 75 grams. One bundle is roughly equivalent to one serving in terms of calories and nutrients.
1 bundle (75 grams) of udon noodles
- 262 calories
- 54 grams of carbohydrates
- 8 grams of protein
- 1 gram of fat
For this recipe, I calculated two bundles (i.e., 150 grams) of udon noodles, because the noodles were accompanied by meat and lots of vegetables.
Spaghetti vs. udon noodles
Compared to 100 grams of spaghetti, udon noodles contain the same amount of carbohydrates but 10 fewer calories. Overall, there is no significant difference in nutrients between spaghetti made from durum wheat and udon noodles also made from durum wheat.
e-book (pdf)
Vagány Receptek
Gyakori kérdés nálad is hogy ,,mit főzzek ma?” Ez az e-book segít, hogy mindig tudd a választ.
What kind of meat should you use?
For this recipe, I used pork tenderloin because I think its distinctive flavor goes well with the sesame oil and soy sauce marinade. Pork tenderloin is a relatively low-fat cut of pork.
What vegetables should you use?
In Asian dishes, roasted ginger and garlic give the food a delicious base flavor. Kale goes well with this (as in this pad thai recipe). The key is to use vegetables that roast well. Sautéing brings out extra flavors, as the carbohydrates in the vegetables make them slightly sweet when cooked. You can also buy ready-made Asian vegetable mixes. For this recipe, I added Freshona Asian vegetable mix, available at Lidl, to the cabbage, because it contained mushrooms and carrots, which added extra flavor to the dish.
Udon noodles, pork tenderloin, and stir-fried vegetables in a wok
Ingredients
- 500 g pork tenderloin
- 150 g udon noodles (2 bundles, dry) I used the Combino brand available at Lild.
- salt
- 250 g kale leaf
- 4 small slices of fresh ginger (approx. 5 grams)
- 1 clove of garlic
- 250 g frozen Asian vegetable mix (I used the Freshona brand available at Lild.)
- 4 4 spring onions (optional)
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) sesame oil
- 5 g fresh ginger
- 5 g garlic
- a few drops of lime juice
Instructions
- Remove the membrane and any fatty parts (if any) from the pork tenderloin. Wash it and pat it dry with paper towels so that no water remains on it. Then cut it lengthwise into slices about one centimeter thick, as if you were cutting coins. Cut these coins in half lengthwise.
- Prepare the marinade. To do this, pour the sesame oil and soy sauce into a mixing bowl. Grate in the garlic cloves and ginger. Sprinkle in a little lime juice. Mix with a whisk.
- Add the pork tenderloin slices to the marinade, stir and leave to stand. It is best to leave it in this marinade overnight..
- The next day, take the meat out of the refrigerator. Leave it to stand for 5-10 minutes to bring it to room temperature. Meanwhile, chop the kale. Wash it and cut it into slices about 1 cm thick. Set aside. Cut the ginger and garlic into thin slices. Set aside.
- Cook the meat in a covered wok or other covered pan. Add the marinade and start frying, then cover after a few minutes and steam the meat until tender.
- While the meat is simmering, prepare the udon noodles. To do this, boil a pot of salted water. When it comes to a boil, add the noodles and cook for another 5 minutes from when it returns to a boil. Stir occasionally. When done, strain and rinse with cold water. Until you are ready to use them, it is best to leave them in cold water, then drain again when ready to use.
- When the meat is tender, add the frozen vegetable mix. Steam it, then fry it. When it's ready, pour everything into a bowl and set it aside.
- There will be a little oil left in the pan. Fry the sliced ginger and garlic in it. Add the kale strips and a little salt. Fry everything together. If you don't like it so crunchy and prefer it softer, pour a little water over it and steam the kale under a lid.
- Once the kale is ready, pour it back into the vegetable and meat mixture. Stir and add the cooked pasta. Stir in the finely chopped green onions and serve.
- When serving, I sprinkled sesame seeds on top, but this step can be omitted.
Calories and macros
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