Cellophane-Noodle Salad with Roast Pork
A vibrant Asian-inspired salad featuring succulent roasted pork shoulder with cellophane noodles, fresh vegetables, and herbs in a flavorful ginger-lime dressing. The dish combines tender marinated pork with crisp vegetables, tropical mango, and three types of fresh herbs for a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Ingredients
- •1 lb pork butt
- •¼ cup hoisin sauce
- •¼ cup soy sauce
- •¼ cup Chinese rice wine or sake
- •1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
- •1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
- •½ teaspoon salt
- •¾ cup seasoned rice vinegar
- •½ cup peanut or vegetable oil
- •3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- •3 tablespoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
- •1 whole jalapeño chile
- •8 oz bean-thread noodles
- •¾ lb Chinese long beans
- •1 whole seedless cucumber
- •1 bunch scallions
- •1 whole mango
- •2 whole carrots
- •½ cup cilantro leaves
- •½ cup mint leaves
- •½ cup basil leaves
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Cut pork along the grain into long 1 1/2- to 2-inch-wide strips. Remove and discard any sinew but do not trim fat. Transfer pork to a large sealable plastic bag. Stir together remaining pork ingredients in a small bowl until combined well. Add to pork and turn to coat, then squeeze bag to eliminate as much air as possible and seal. Marinate pork, chilled, at least 4 hours but no longer than 24.
240 min
- 2.
Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 375°F. Put 1/2 inch water in a 13- by 9-inch roasting pan and place a metal rack across top of pan (rack should not touch water).
15 min
- 3.
Remove pork from marinade, reserving marinade, and arrange pork strips 1 inch apart on rack. Roast in oven 15 minutes.
15 min
- 4.
Meanwhile, bring marinade to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan, then boil 1 minute (marinade may look curdled). Remove from heat.
5 min
- 5.
Brush both sides of pork with some marinade and roast 10 minutes more. Generously brush both sides of pork with marinade again and roast, basting 2 or 3 times, 10 minutes more.
20 min
- 6.
Increase oven temperature to 400°F and roast pork until strips are mahogany-colored and caramelized on edges, 10 to 15 minutes more (pork should roast for a total of about 50 minutes). Transfer to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes.
25 min
- 7.
Blend together all dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth. Stir before using.
5 min
- 8.
Soak noodles in cold water to cover until pliable, about 15 minutes, then drain in a colander. Cut noodles in half with kitchen shears.
15 min
- 9.
Cook beans in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer with a skimmer or slotted spoon to a large bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, reserving cooking liquid in pot. Drain beans and pat dry.
10 min
- 10.
Return bean-cooking liquid to a boil, then cook noodles, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain noodles in colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain noodles again, then spread out on paper towels and pat dry.
10 min
- 11.
Cut as much pork as desired for salad across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
5 min
- 12.
Toss noodles with 1/4 cup dressing in a bowl. Toss long beans with 2 tablespoons dressing in another bowl.
5 min
- 13.
Arrange pork, noodles, beans, and remaining salad ingredients on a large platter. Drizzle with some of dressing and serve remaining dressing on the side.
10 min