Red Hot Cold Noodles

Serves: 4

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Ingredients:

  • 4 portions (about 1 cup each) fresh ramen noodles, cooked, cooled in ice bath, & well drained*

For TABASCO® Cold Noodle Sauce

  • 1 cup malted Chinese black vinegar (or regular malt vinegar)
  • 3/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup sake
  • 1/2 cup mirin
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh garlic
  • 3/4 cup TABASCO® Sauce
  • 3oz vegetable oil
  • 3oz toasted sesame oil

For TABASCO® Soy Glaze

  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 cup TABASCO® Sauce
  • 1 stick cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 12 slices (about 2oz each) of slow-cooked pork belly (or another cooked protein or vegetable of choice)

For Garnish

  • 3 small Fresno chilis or jalapeño pepper, cut into thin rings (remove seeds if less heat is desired)
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 3/4 cup scallions, cut into thin rings
  • 2 teaspoons Japanese shichimi pepper powder (or 1 teaspoon ground white pepper)
  • 2 boiled 6-minute semi-soft eggs, peeled

Method:

For TABASCO® Cold Noodle Sauce

  1. Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sake, mirin, and garlic, and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  2. Mix in the remaining sauce ingredients and cool in the refrigerator until ready to use. This lasts for 3 weeks in the fridge.

For TABASCO® Soy Glaze

  1. In a saucepan, add soy sauce and heat to a boil. Boil for about a minute to reduce it by half. Add the TABASCO® Sauce and heat until very hot, but not boiling, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter until melted. Keep warm.
  2. To glaze meats or vegetables, add the cooked meats or vegetables to a sauté pan and add enough glaze to barely coat the meat. Heat pan to medium-high until the glaze has absorbed onto the meat and it becomes slightly caramelized. Keep warm.

Serving Suggestion

  • Mix together the chilled noodles*, Fresno chilis, shredded lettuce, scallions, and the TABASCO® Cold Noodle Sauce. Divide evenly between 4 bowls. Top with the glazed pork. Carefully slice the eggs with a very thin knife or a piece of fishing line and place half an egg on each bowl of noodles. Enjoy!

TIP! You can find fresh ramen noodles (Sun Brand) in Whole Foods Markets, or explore a local Chinatown or Asian market. If you cannot find fresh ramen noodles, choose dry ramen noodles, cook quickly, chill well, and drain. Do not use any seasoning packets that may come with these noodles.