Hakka Noodles from Ping Coombes - #MotherFood series

I had an absolute pleasure of having the MasterChef 2014 Champion - Ping Coombes - on my podcast this week! We spoke about her mother and the childhood food memories, her own experience of motherhood and how to adapt to the ever changing life as a parent and a chef. Ping shared this 'go-to’ meal that is loved by her daughters and was her own childhood staple! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to recreate this in my own kitchen!

You can listen to the #MotherFood podcast episode with Ping here

photo by Ping Coombes

In Ping’s own words

This is one of my favourite dishes that my mom made. I often have it with noodles for breakfast in my mums car. As Ipoh is not very big, I don't have to get up for school till very late.  I will get up and get dressed in less than 10 minutes while she prepared breakfast. We will dash into the car and I would eat this on the way to school. It was a 10 minute ride, if that! I will wolf it down and go to school stinking of garlic. I didn't care I loved having it. Now that I am a mom I often cook this for my daughter. It is very versatile and keep well in the fridge. I normally make a small batch and I will serve it wanton or egg noodles. I suppose you can treat it like an Asian Bolognese. It is very easy to make and only used a handful of ingredients.

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Effort: Easy

To marinade the Pork

• 500g minced pork

• 1.5 tbs of cornflour

• 1 tbs oyster

• 2tbs soya sauce

• 1/2 tsp of sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper.

Leave to marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature

• 2 cloves of garlic finely chopped

• 40g coriander, chopped stalks and all

• 1 tbs oil

• 2 tbs fish sauce

• 2 tbs kecap manis (sweet soya sauce)

• 1/2 tsp sugar

• 1 1/2 tbs cornflour dilute in 2tbs of cold water

• 250ml water

For the Noodles

• 4 balls of wanton/ egg noodles

• 2 tbs garlic oil

• 2 tbs sweet soya sauce

• 2 tbs oyster sauce

METHOD

1. Heat oil in wok or frying pan over medium heat. Add garlic and fry until it releases its aroma but not coloured. 

2. Add pork and gently fry until the pinkness is gone and break it into little pieces.

3. Add fish sauce, kecap manis and sugar.

4. Add water. Bring it to the boil and then lower the heat to gentle simmer for 5 minutes. Don't worry if there is too much water; it will soon thicken. 

5. Add cornflour mixture to the pork and bring to the boil. As it boils the sauce will thicken and coat the pork. At this stage add the coriander, fold it in and turn off the heat. 

6. To serve, cook noodles according to packet instructions. Drain well and coat lightly with garlic oil. Season with sweet soy sauce and oyster sauce. Top with generous dollop of pork mixture.

7. To eat, mix it together and slurp loudly!

Tips: Cook this on gentle heat as high heat will dry out the pork. You could also use chicken or turkey for this dish. I would recommend chopped chicken thighs. Serve this with fresh wanton noodles, the perfect accompaniment. You can also serve it with egg noodles, flat rice noodles, rice or congee (rice porridge).