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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Noodle Soup w/ Pork, Bean Sprouts, & Spinach inspired by The Ramen girl for Food 'n Flix

Can you imagine following your guy to a whole new country...much to his chagrin?  A country whose native tongue you do not speak.  A country in which you have no other friends, except said "guy".  And then he leaves.  And he doesn't think he'll be back.  Ever.  So you cry your crocodile tears and wake up alone in a strange country.  All alone.  In his apartment...that at least he had the decency to let you "keep".  The only thing is- you're determined to stay.  I mean...come on...he'll be back.  Right!?  Not even close.  But life goes on and you meet a friend or two.  You smoke your cigarettes and drink your Japanese beer...you live some semblance of a normal life...until something draws you in.  It's a scent...but it's not just a scent.  It's an aura.  It's an energy.  It glows!  Warmth and people and something cooking...you're mesmerized.
Bowls of steaming Ramen...made from the hands and the soul of a Ramen chef.  The steam alone can fill your heart with joy and make you laugh uncontrollably at the first whiff.  One spoonful can make the tears free-flow straight from your heart and through your eyes...adding silent, salty drips into your bowl.  One bowl can   transport you twenty years back in time...leaving your chopsticks suspended, like memories, in mid-air.
The Ramen Girl is one of our two featured flicks this month over at Food 'n Flix (the other being Waitress) this month. I love The Ramen girl...it's a fun, foodie chick-flick that I won't ruin by giving any more away.  I was totally inspired to make a bowl of noodle soup...with broth, noodles, veggies, and meat that would transport me to another level.  Check it out...

Pork Noodle Soup w/ Bean Sprouts & Spinach
adapted from the Vietnamese pork noodle soup in Nigella Kitchen
makes ~4 svgs.

11 oz. Pork Tenderloin, cut into thin discs, then fine strips
2 Tbs. lime juice
2 Tbs. soy sauce
½ tsp. paprika
2 Tbs. fish sauce
8 oz. fresh Udon noodles
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 clove garlic, smashed
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 Tbs. fresh ginger, peeled & chopped
1 quart rich chicken stock or broth
6 oz. fresh bean sprouts
2 big handfuls baby spinach
jalapeños (red, green, or both), diced fine for garnish

Place strips of pork in a bowl and add lime juice, soy sauce, paprika and fish sauce and let stand no more than 15 minutes.

Cook the noodles according to package directions, ~2 minutes if using fresh Udon.  Drain.  In the meantime, heat chicken stock until boiling.

Heat a wok and add oil and garlic, stir around for a minute or so to infuse the oil with the garlic.  Add scallions and ginger and cook for a minute or so.  Tip in the bowl of pork with its marinade, stirring as you go.  Cook meat for another two minutes, then add hot broth and let the whole thing come to a boil.

Drop in bean sprouts and spinach and cook for another minute or two.  Divide noodles amongst serving bowls.  Use tongs to lift out the meat and veggies and divide them amongst the bowls, on top of the noodles.  Ladle the hot broth over the top and garnish with the jalapeños.

Prepare to get in touch with your soul.
Food‘nFlix

*This post is also linked to:
Souper_Sundays2 prestopastanights SundayNightSoupNight
~Kirstin at From Kirsten's Kitchen to Yours is Hosting PPN this week!
~WanderFood Wednesday

Would you like to comment?

  1. Never seen the movie, but this is my kind of meal.

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  2. Are you kiddin me, I was so into reading the story. Oh yes, I love noodles girl. And anytime too. Have you seen all the noodle recipes on my blog...? Thanks for stopping by, I enjoyed your post tremendously.

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  3. This sounds amazing! And I think I have everything I need to make it!!! Thanks for sharing! Yum!!

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  4. U gave me an idea for dinner tonight.. Too bad about the lead actress!. gonna netflix Ramen Girl.

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  5. I love Waitress but this is one movie I've never seen but now I can just imagine turning it on and heating up a bowl of this wonderful, perfect soup, one of our favorite winter meals.

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  6. Never seen this one, but if a great ramen movie? Tampopo. Make sure you have a bowl of steaming noodles next to you when you watch!

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  7. I'd like to see that movie and I'd like to make this soup! Love the combination of ingredients.

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  8. never seen the movie, but would like to have a bowl of this ramen right now!

    malou

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  9. Following a guy to another country? No! Eating this soup? YES! I love a good noodle bowl like this and love it even more with the pork. Yeah Nigella! (I went to buy her new book last week and it was sold out)

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  10. "much to his chagrin" - ugh. I'm irritated with the male race already.

    But this soup! Enough to elevate my spirits and infuse some positive energy back into me. Delicious.

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  11. Not only have I never seen this movie, but I've never even heard of it either. I need to get out more. haha

    BUT my husband DID come to the USA with limited English, zero friends, and some serious culture shock. So I might be able to partially relate. hehe

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  12. I'd take the soup over the movie, any day, especially if I could have a bowl of yours.

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  13. I like ramen noodle, I have to make them skipping the meat part. looks delicious.

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  14. Oh thank you. Ive never even heard of this movie and the soup looks amazing. i want it right now.

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  15. wow - i LOVE ramen, and this book looks great. but the recipe (and soup) look even GREATER> thank you!

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  16. Movies and food, my two favorite things!

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  17. must put ramen girl into our netflix, and must eat this while watching ramen girl!

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  18. Both the movie and the noodles sound perfect.

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  19. Soup, how do I love thee? Very much! Can't wait to make this, Heather, and I just added the movie to our insanely long netflix queue, but because I've no patience for waiting, I've bumped it to the top!

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  20. Hi there! Just wanted to let you know there's a Marx Foods stocking with your name on it! Check your email, I need your mailing address. Your blog looks delicious! This only a drive-by, but as The Terminator would say, I'll be back!

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  21. I've been trying to stay away from processed foods, but those Ramen noodles sounds delish. I like your recipe, I may just give it a try. Have a great evening.

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  22. Yummie, I love udon noddles...love the texture of this noddles...as a matter of fact I always have it in my freezer :-) Love the way you prepared with lots of veggies and spice it up with jalapeno...so good!

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  23. Nice! I love Asian noodle soups. I've never seen spinach in one before, I must try it.

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  24. I recently watched...and enjoyed this movie. This is one amazing looking bowl of noodles. A must try!

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  25. Does it count that even though I have never seen the movie I am desperately attracted to this dish?

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  26. Hi Gloria...I don't think you have to stay away from these at all! They're not processed...sure, there's a bit of fish sauce and soy sauce, but those are fairly natural as far as "processed" goes!!

    Fish sauce is simply anchovy extract, salt, & sugar.

    Soy sauce is water, wheat, soybeans, salt, lactic acid & a minor amount preservative-sodium benzoate!!

    No sacrifice needed :)

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  27. absolutely loved ur post-- though a pure vegetarian i loved the recipe for the soup, planning to bring my own version to it and yes i loved the movie _ The Ramen Girl !! and through ur words i feel i have watched the movie one more time ! Rock on Gal !!

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  28. If you can get your hands on some Thai basil I bet that would be great in this too! MMMM

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  29. Delicious! Great way to celebrate F'n'F! (Looks like it doesn't matter if I can't find the movie.. I have lived it. Only it was my mother who followed my father to Japan... and had me there)

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  30. Great post... you had me worried initially, thinking it was you stranded... silly me, who'd leave YOU!

    Stunning photos, I'm still drooling and what a wonderful dish. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.

    Happy Holidays and hope to get more of your pasta treats in 2011.

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  31. Hit my bowl with a splash of sriracha sauce and I'm going to be in heaven. My three favorite HOT things....soup, sriracha, and Nigella :)

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  32. What a gorgeous bowl of soup--perfect for Food n' Flix and I am happy to have it at Souper Sundays. ;-)

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  33. Yowza, bookmarking! My husband would die for this soup! with Sunday Night Soup Night, look forward to seeing you again soon!

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