Vietnamese Pork-and-Noodle Soup
In many Asian cultures, long noodles symbolize long life. And in the spirit of that tradition, we've left the pasta whole here, to be eaten with chopsticks or even a fork. Of course, if you're feeling reckless, you can go ahead and break the noodles into smaller pieces before cooking them.
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1/4 pound linguine
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 1 pork tenderloin (about 3/4 pound), cut into 1 1/2-by-1/2-by-1/2-inch strips
- 6 scallions including green tops, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (nam pla or nuoc mam)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 quart canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
- 1/4 pound bean sprouts
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (from about 1 lime), plus lime wedges for serving
- 1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut crosswise into thin slices
- 1 cup lightly packed mint, basil, or cilantro leaves, or a combination
How to make this recipe
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In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until just done, about 12 minutes. Drain the pasta. Rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly.
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Meanwhile, in another large pot, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the pork, scallions, and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes.
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Add the tomatoes, fish sauce, salt, water, and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the pork is just done, about 10 minutes. Stir the cooked linguine, bean sprouts, and lime juice into the soup. Ladle into bowls, top each serving with some of the cucumber and herbs, and serve with the lime wedges.
Notes
Asian fish sauce is available at Asian markets and most supermarkets.
Suggested Pairing
More and more Asian fusion chefs are discovering how well Riesling complements their food. Try a Mosel Kabinett here to see how its sweetness balances the soup's salty flavors while the bright citrus flavors in both shine through.