Spicy Sambal Pork Noodles with Bok Choy – Gluten Free

A Gluten-Free Spicy Sambal Pork Noodles with Bok Choy is incredibly delicious. What’s even better, this gluten-free pork noodle dish is remarkably easy to prepare. Key ingredients include ground pork, ginger, garlic, hot chili sauce, tamari sauce, and noodles. The bok choy is not only nutritious, but elevates the noodle dish with a tasty blend of textures, flavors, and freshness.

Introduction to Bold and Spicy Sambal Pork Noodles

Ingredients:

This recipe is a gluten-free noodle dish packed with meat, noodles, and bold flavors with heat. The spiciness is derived from Sambal Oelek, an Indonesian hot chili paste. The bold flavor includes fresh garlic, ginger, tamari sauce, tomato paste, and rice vinegar.

Herb Enhancement:

For an added herbaceous twist, dried basil leaves are included. While fresh basil is an option, dried herbs intensify the basil’s flavor, elevating this sambal pork noodle dish to another level.

No Need for Extra Salt in Your Gluten-Free Sambal Pork Noodles

It’s worth noting that you don’t need to add salt to this gluten-free pork noodle dish. Here’s why:

• Tamari Sauce: Contains 320 mg of sodium per teaspoon, providing sufficient saltiness.
• Sambal Oelek: Contains about 400 mg of sodium per 1/4 cup, adding additional seasoning.
• Salted Pasta Water: Further enhances the dish’s seasoning.

However, taste the sambal pork noodles just before serving. If you feel the dish needs more salt, you can add it then. Personally, I found that this pork recipe didn’t need extra salt.

What is sambal oelek?

Sambal Oelek is a spicy Indonesian chilli paste made with raw Thai hot red chile peppers, salt and vinegar that are ground together. You can also use red jalapenos, serranos, Fresno peppers and cayenne peppers.

Oelek refers to the mortar and pestle used to make sambal in Indonesian kitchens. Compared to sriracha, sambal oelek is less acidic and lacks a strong presence of vinegar. This means you can add spiciness without impacting the flavour of the dish.

If you need to replace sambal oelek in a recipe, then the best options are sriracha, gochujang, or a mix of crushed red chilli flakes with rice vinegar.

Recipe for Gluten-Free Sambal Oelek

Ingredients:

1. 1 pound red chilli peppers, stems removed. Thai peppers are traditional, but red jalapenos, serranos, Fresno peppers and cayenne peppers are suitable substitutes
2. 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar (unflavoured)
3. 1 Tbsp. sea salt
4. 2 garlic cloves (optional)
5. 1 tsp. fresh lime juice

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a mortar or a food processor. Grind until coarse paste forms.
•  Add to a jar and cover. Refrigerate until ready to use. It keeps up to 3 days refrigerated or freezes for up to 6 months.

Best gluten-free noodles for Sambal Pork Noodle Dish

If you can find gluten-free ramen noodles, I highly recommend using them. But you can also use gluten-free soba or spaghetti noodles. Or, serve the sambal pork sauce over simple rice and sauteed veggies. 

Toppings

I like to add freshness to this meaty noodle dish. This means fresh herbs such as Thai or regular basil, cilantro and thinly sliced green onions. 

I used cilantro because I love the flavour. Asian recipes often use cilantro, sometimes referred to as coriander leaves or Chinese parsley. You can also add chopped peanuts or cashews. 

Can I substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for ground pork?

Yes, you can use chicken or turkey. The only thing you will need to add is about three tablespoons of cooking oil before you start browning the meat because both chicken and turkey have less fat than ground pork.

The veggies

The best veggies that will work in this sambal pork noodle dish are broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, thinly sliced Nappa cabbage, thinly sliced kale, julienned carrots, sliced green onions or roughly chopped spinach.

Spicy Sambal Pork Noodles with Bok Choy: The Recipe

Peel and slice the ginger and garlic – 2 min hands on time

Brown the meat and add all the ingredients with water except the noodles, bok choy and butter. Cook for 45 minutes

Prepare the gluten-free ramen noodles per package instructions, drain and reserve some of the water 

Prepare the bok choy – 1 minute hands on time

Stir bok choy into sambal pork sauce and cook covered for additional 2 minutes

Add noodles, butter and a splash of pasta water, and stir to coat the noodles with the sauce – 2 minutes hands on time.

Serve with your favourite toppings.

More Gluten-Free Noodle Dishes to Explore

Gluten-Free Beef Sukiyaki Noodle Salad

Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken with Basil Butter Noodles

Gluten-Free Korean Noodles – Vegan

Gluten-Free Spicy Chinese Noodles

Gluten-Free Saucy Thai Noodles

Gluten-Free Spicy Sambal Pork Noodles with Bok Choy: Recipe Review

This gluten-free sambal oelek pork noodle dish is such an easy and delicious dish with key ingredients such as ground pork, ginger, garlic, hot chilli sauce, tamari sauce, and noodles. It may become one of your favourite go-to weeknight meals because it’s so easy and a sure crowd pleaser. Enjoy!