Pork Noodle Salad

I already mentioned how sad I was that our Thai restaurant closed. We always ordered the same three dishes, not all at once. But we did not stray from our favorites, Spring Rolls, Chicken Basil Cashew and Pork Noodle Salad. I think I have finally mastered the Pork Noodle Salad. We would always ask the restaurant to make it medium spicy. Sometimes that was mild and sometimes it was blow your head off spicy. I guess it depended on the chef that day. My version is just right, don't get me wrong it is spicy but it will not hurt you.

Pork Noodle Salad

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 large shrimp, shell on and deveined

8 ounces uncooked rice vermicelli

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

3 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1/2 cup red onion, sliced

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions

1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh cilantro

1 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced

1 tsp fish sauce

2 tsp garlic chili paste

1 lb lean ground pork (or chicken)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 Tbsp canola oil

1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

Preparation

Bring a 2 qt pot of water to boil with a few black peppercorns, pinch red pepper flakes and a splash or two of vinegar. Boil the shrimp until they turn pink and are opaque. It will only take a minute or two. Set aside to let cool. When cool remove peel but leave tail on.

Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water; drain. Place noodles in a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup vinegar and next 4 ingredients (through fish sauce); toss well. Top with some of the red onion, green onions and cilantro.

Combine hoisin and next 5 ingredients (through garlic chili paste). Heat oil in a skillet, brown pork seasoning evenly with salt and black pepper. Add hoisin mixture; continue to cook until well combined. Divide noodles into four bowls and top with pork mixture. Garnish each bowl with more of the red onion, green onions, cilantro, peanuts and a shrimp.




UPDATE: I just found out that the Thai restaurant I have been rambling about is open again. Yeah!! See this post at 20x49; Goldenland Superior is Back.

Linking to:
Ms. enPlace: See Ya in the Gumbo
The Chicken Chick: Clever Chicks Blog Hop
This Gal Cooks: Marvelous Mondays
Frugal Foodie Mama: Marvelous Mondays
Buns In My Oven: What's Cookin Wednesday
Anyonita Nibbles: Tasty Tuesdays
The Tumbleweed Contessa: Spicy! Saturday Dishes Linky Party
The Crafty Side of Sarcasm: Retro Repin Party
Carole's Chatter: Food on Friday - Thai Food