Caramelized Vietnamese Pork & Ramen Noodles

I got this recipe from my son and his partner. They always introduce us to dishes with which my wife and I are unfamiliar. They knocked it out of the park with this one. One of our favorites. (Full disclosure: I made some minor changes, but the taste is pretty much the same.)

INGREDIENTS:

• For the caramelized pork:
  • 1 Lb. ground pork
  • 3 Tbsp. grapeseed oil or vegetable oil of your choice
  • 3 Tsps finely chopped garlic
  • 2 Tsps finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 Large red jalapeño (if you prefer less spicy, take out the seeds and veins)
  • 3 Tbsp minced shallots
  • 2 Tbsp light brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Vietnamese fish sauce
  • 3 Tsp. lime zest
  • 1 Tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 Cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts
  • Salt and pepper to taste
• For the ramen noodles:
  • 1 Package instant ramen noodles (discard the seasoning)
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 Tsp red pepper flakes (use less if you prefer less heat)
  • 1 Tsp light brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Egg lightly beaten
  • 1 Tsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 Tbsp chopped dry roasted peanuts
  • 2 Scallions, thinly sliced (white part only). Slice the green parts on the diagonal and reserve for garnish.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• For the caramelized pork:
  • Over high heat, add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the grapeseed oil to a wok or saucepan.
  • Add the ground pork, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste and continue cooking the pork until lightly browned.
  • Remove the pork and place in a strainer to remove excess fat.
  • Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil to the wok or pan over high heat. Add the ginger, jalapeño and shallots and cook for approximately 1 minute. Add the garlic and continue cooking until fragrant.
  • Add the browned pork back into the wok or pan and stir. Add the brown sugar and fish sauce and stir to combine all the ingredients well.
  • Let the pork cook for approximately 1 minute, stirring only a few times to scrap up any brown bits in the wok or pan.
  • The pork should be well caramelized and crispy.
  • Add the lime juice, zest and scallions and stir to blend with the meat.
  • Remove from the stove.
• For the ramen noodles:
  • Prepare the noodles according to the package being very careful not to over cook.
  • Heat the butter in a sauce pan over medium heat.
  • Add the scallions, garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Stir in the soy sauce and brown sugar.
  • Add the noodles and toss with the sauce.

Serve the noodles in a bowl, topped with the pork and garnished with the slice green portion of the scallions.