1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 sprigs fresh basil
2 tablespoons Sambal Oelek ground chili paste
⅛ cup soy sauce
⅛ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
¾ pounds fresh udon or ramen noodles
1 tablespoon butter (optional)
kosher salt to taste
Preparation
Heat oil in a large wide heavy pot (Le Creuset works great) over medium to medium-high heat. Add half of the pork, breaking apart into 3 large chunks with a wooden spoon. Cook, undisturbed, until well browned underneath, about 5 minutes. Turn pieces and continue to cook until pork is nicely browned on both sides, about 3-4 minutes longer.
Add ginger, garlic, sugar, and remaining pork to the pot and cook, breaking up pork into small clumps, until meat is nearly cooked through, about 5 minutes, adjusting heat as necessary. Add tomato paste and 1 basil sprig. Cook, stirring occasionally until tomato paste darkens, about 2 minutes. Add chili sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, and 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat too low. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally , until sauce is slightly thickened and flavors have melded, about 30 minutes.
Cook noodles per the instructions, in a large pot of boiling salted water (short of al dente). Add noodles to the pot with sauce along with the butter. Add a splash of pasta cooking water if sauce seems too thick. Simmer, tossing occasionally until the sauce begins to cling to the noodles, about 1 minute. Remove basil sprig.
Divide noodles among plates or bowls and top with torn basil.
Recipe by My Lilikoi Kitchen at https://www.mylilikoikitchen.com/2019/05/08/spicy-sweet-sambal-pork-noodles/