Rice Noodles with Chinese Chives, Shrimp, and Pork
One summer when I was child, a family friend regularly gave us grocery bags full of Chinese chives (he) from her garden. The grassy foot-long chives are easy to grow from seed, and this woman must have had a bumper crop that year. We put the bounty to good use in this delicious noodle dish. No matter how many times it appeared on the dinner table, I never tired of the soft chives, hints of garlic, bits of shrimp and pork, and tart lime finish. Chinese chives are significantly larger than Western chives, and their flat leaves have a delicate garlic, rather than onion, flavor. In Chinese and Southeast Asian markets, they are typically sold in one-pound bundles. Vietnamese cooks treat them like a green vegetable, often cooking them with noodles. Here, their flat shape mixes perfectly with bánh pho. For a light meal, serve the noodles as the main course, pairing it with one of the special-event salads in chapter 1.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 2 or 3 as a main course, or 4 to 6 with 2 or 3 other dishes
Ingredients
Flavoring Sauce
Preparation
Step 1
Place the noodles in a bowl and cover with hot tap water. Let soak for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are pliable and opaque. Drain and use scissors to cut them into 3- to 4-inch lengths.
Step 2
To make the flavoring sauce, in a small bowl, combine the sugar, fish sauce, and water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Set aside.
Step 3
In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry for 15 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the shrimp and pork and stir briefly to break up the meat. Sprinkle in the salt and sugar. Keep stirring, and when the shrimp and pork have turned color, after about 2 minutes, add the Chinese chives. Because there is so much food in the pan now, use 2 cooking utensils to stir and toss the ingredients, ensuring even exposure to the heat. (Think of tossing a big salad.) When the chives have collapsed by one-third of their original volume, after about 3 minutes, add the noodles and combine well. When all of the ingredients are well combined, give the flavoring sauce a stir and pour over the mixture. Continue stirring and tossing for 2 to 3 minutes longer, or until the noodles and chives are soft and cooked.
Step 4
Remove from the heat, squeeze 4 lime wedges (1 lime) over the noodles, and mix well to distribute the flavors. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with the remaining lime wedges.
