Full of flavour and weeknight easy! This 20 Minute Spicy Pork Udon Stir Fry uses wok-ready udon noodles means no boiling is required, so dinner is ready in just 20 minutes!
Udon noodle stir fries are a favourite fast and easy meal around here. I love the heartiness of these fat noodles! This 20 Minute Spicy Pork Udon Stir Fry, combines quick marinated pork with vegetables, udon noodles and a spicy sauce.
Don't worry though if you aren't a spice lover. You can easily control the heat.
If you start with fresh, frozen or shelf-stable, vacuum sealed udon, there is no need to cook the udon ahead. They can go straight into the wok! For frozen udon noodles, place them in a bowl of cold water to thaw just before you start your stir fry and then right into the wok.
This udon stir fry is the 2nd of three recipes I'm sharing this week that use "Fast Fry" boneless pork loin cutlets. Check out my Pork Tonkatsu Bowl, for another recipe. Watch for a 3rd pork loin recipe on Saturday.
Cook's Notes
The heat in this udon stir fry comes from the Sambal Oelek. Using the 2 tsp will give you a nice kick. Add more if you're a spice lover and of course, less if you're not :) Sambal Oelek is more powerful in the heat department than Asian Chili Garlic Sauce. If you are using that option, you may need a bit more.
You could easily substitute boneless chicken (thighs or breast), for the pork in this stir fry. Or leave out the meat altogether for a vegetarian version.
As noted in the recipe instructions, as we are using the same sauce as a marinade (with the raw pork) and as a sauce in the stir fry, you'll want to be sure to boil the finished sauce for several minutes, to ensure any meat juices are cooked.
Love udon noodles? Check out my vegetarian 15 Minute Udon Stir Fry or this Udon in a spicy peanut sauce.
Udon Noodle Options
Udon noodles come in many forms. The most commonly available are the shelf-stable, vacuum packed soft udon. These usually come in packages of 2 or 4 individual packages of about 7oz. each. These can go straight from the package into the wok.
When I'm at the Asian Market, I like to pick up frozen udon. Frozen udon would always be my first choice for udon noodles, if they are available. The frozen udon is generally one package, but inside you will probably find 5 segments of noodles, of about 7.5 oz. each. To use, simply break off what you need and thaw them in a big bowl of cold water (takes only about 10 minutes), then they go straight into the wok. While conventional wisdom suggests that these should be boiled ahead, I've never found that to be necessary with a stir fry. They cook up just fine for me without pre-boiling.
If you are very lucky, you might find fresh udon noodles. They are scarce though. If you do find some, they can go straight into the wok, too.
Finally, there is dried udon noodles. Like dried pastas, these must be boiled before using in a stir fry. I've never found dried udon to be worth the trouble of boiling them. They lack that fat appearance and chewy texture that I so love about udon.
20 Minute Spicy Pork Udon Stir Fry
Ingredients
Sauce:
- 2 tsp Sambal Oelek, or Asian Chili Garlic Sauce
- 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce, low sodium recommended
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
Stir Fry:
- 4-5 thin boneless "fast fry" pork loin cutlets
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 medium onion, sliced
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 1 medium red pepper, core and seeds removed and cut into matchsticks
- 1/2 cup green onion, sliced diagonally (green part only)
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 15 oz fresh, frozen or vacuum-sealed udon noodles
For garnish:
- Additional sliced green onion
- 2-3 Tbsp chopped peanuts
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the Sauce ingredients. Set aside.
- Trim any bit of fat off the then pork loin cutlets, then slice against the grain (width-wise) into bite-sized strips. Place into sauce and set aside to marinade a bit while you prepare your vegetables.
- Prepare your vegetables by cutting your carrots and red pepper into matchsticks. Slice up the onion and green onion and have the baby spinach at hand. Keep separate vegetables separate, as they will be added at different times.
- Heat a Tbsp of oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat (or a touch higher even) until hot. Using a slotted spoon (or strainer) remove the pork pieces from the marinade to the hot wok. (leaving the marinade in the bowl or reserving marinade). Cook pork, stirring, until cooked through. Remove to a bowl.
- Add carrots to wok and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes (I sometimes like to add a tablespoon of water here, to help the carrots cook more quickly and thoroughly). Add red pepper and cooking onion and cook a further minute or so, or until tender crisp. Add the green onion and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds or so. Return pork to the wok.
- Pour reserved marinade into wok and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for a minute or two. *Note: As we used the marinade earlier with raw meat, it is important that the sauce boil for several minutes, so don't skip that part. Add udon to skillet and cook, tossing until udon is hot and well coated with sauce, 2-3 minutes.
- Remove wok from heat and scatter baby spinach overtop. Allow to sit for 30-45 seconds, then toss the spinach into the stir fry, where it will wilt slightly from the heat of the stir fry.
- Serve warm, garnished with chopped peanuts and additional sliced green onion.
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon to make personal health decisions.
Hi! I'm Jennifer, a home-cook of many years and a lifelong seeker of delicious food! I'm an equal opportunity eater. I enjoy eating all the foods!
Pina says
Can I make this with beef strips instead of pork?
Jennifer says
Hi Pina and yes, it would be nice with beef strips, as well. Enjoy!
Wait Up says
Perfect. Great flavor. I had extra firm tofu and marinated that for the protein...it browned nicely and had a nice texture . Used cauliflower, broccoli and chickpeas. The recipe is welcoming and flexible and I have flagged it for use again. Thank you.
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank so much :)
JostLori says
Wow - we absolutely loved this! The sauce is spot on, especially if you use low-sodium soy sauce. I used Chili Garlic sauce and went a bit (well, maybe a lot) heavy on the ginger. Next time, will add more carrots and make them a thicker matchstick, as mine practically disappeared. Nevertheless, this is one of the best stir fries I've had! Thanks for sharing this keeper of a recipe!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much :)
Lynette aka breezermom says
This is delicious! I couldn't find fresh or frozen udon noodles and had to use dry. I advise reducing the amount of noodles if using dry.....I should have calculated that but after a long day at work, my brains wasn't quite up to it. Love all the vegetablels.....think I'd add more carrots and some mushrooms next time. The sauce is wonderful. I'll use that on other stir frys.
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Lynette :) Thanks so much!
Lili says
Yummy. Followed the recipe to a T. Definitely go with low sodium soy sauce. My ONLY correction would be the timing. This is NOT a 20-minute dish start to finish unless you are a professional cook and can whip out matchstick veggies in a flash. I'm pretty slow. The prep took me over 20 minutes.
Jennifer says
Glad you enjoyed it, Lili :) Thanks so much!
Susan says
Made this tonight. It was delicious! The pork was the perfect choice of meat for this combination of flavors. First time having udon noodles, nice change of pace. The chopped peanuts on top were a great texture addition.
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Susam :) Thanks so much!
Francois says
I found the recipe very salty. First time eating Udon noodles, not a fan, but that is personal taste. Enjoyed the vegetable mix. The recipes lacks balance between sweet and salty.
Grace says
Great vegan version with omnipork strips. Delicious.
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Grace :) Thanks so much!
Mo says
Was perfect! Thank you for a lovely recipe!
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Mo :) Thanks so much!
Grace says
I love this recipe and swap in omnipork Strips instead of meat for a vegan delight. I use less sugar but still very delicious
Jennifer says
Glad you are enjoying it, Grace :) Thanks so much!
Nancy says
This dish is so easy to make and soooo flavorful. Definitely a recipe that hubby and I will enjoy again. Made this dish upon the recommendation of Laurel. : )
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Nancy and thanks Laurel for recommending it :) Thanks!
Lynette aka breezermom says
Delicious! Easy to make and tastes fabulous. Even my pepper hating son gobbled this up....not sure, but maybe he thought the red peppers were carrots. LOL.
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Lynette :) Thanks so much!
KathyD says
I LOVED this! The udon noodles were so yummy in this dish. The pork and veggies were cooked perfectly and the sauce flavoring was delicious. Thank you!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Kathy :) Thanks so much!
Noona says
I’ve made this recipe many times now, it’s one of my favorites. So so good
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Noona :) Thanks so much!