Char siu pork noodle soup is a hearty bowl of fresh wide rice noodles served in a flavorful homemade broth topped with tender juicy char siu pork and vegetables. In my opinion, noodles are food for the soul so I hope this recipe brings you comfort, warmth, and joy – just like it did for me!
0 Start by preparing the char siu marinade. In a small mixing bowl, combine Lee Kum Kee char siu sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, honey, grated garlic, Chinese five spice powder, white pepper powder, fermented bean curd, and fermented bean curd brine.
1 Mix together well with a whisk, making sure to break up the fermented bean curd. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the marinade to be used as a honey glaze. Set the rest of the marinade aside for later.
2 Prepare the pork by slicing them into 2 inch thick pieces. Using a fork, stab the pork on all sides. Transfer to a heavy duty Ziploc bag then pour the marinade over the pork. Close the Ziploc bag, making sure it's completely sealed.
3 Massage the marinade into the pork then transfer to the fridge for at least 12 to 24 hours.
4 To prepare the soup, heat a pot with neutral oil over medium heat. Once heated through, toss in the ginger slices and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the white part of the scallions then cook for an additional minute. Pour in the chicken stock and water, then bring to a boil.
5 Once boiling, add sesame oil and white pepper. Taste the soup to see if it's to your liking. For example, if it's bland, add a pinch of salt. If it's too salty, add a splash of water. When you're happy with the taste of the soup, turn it off and set it aside.
6 Preheat the air fryer to 400F (205C). While the air fryer is preheating, prepare the honey glaze. Take the reserved marinade and add honey and water. Mix until well combined.
8 When the air fryer is ready to be used, arrange the marinated pork shoulder into the air fryer, making sure that there is enough space around each piece.
9 Air fry for 3 minutes, then baste with the honey glaze. Flip and baste the other side. Cook for another 3 minutes. Repeat 2 more times. Cook for a total of about 12 to 14 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145F (63C). Depending on the thickness of your pork, you may need to cook it for another minute or so. I recommend using a meat thermometer to get an accurate temperature reading.
10 Remove the char siu from the air fryer and let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Slice into 1/4 inch thick pieces or your desired thickness.
11 Reheat the soup to a simmer. Next, prepare a pot of boiling water and set it over medium high heat. Blanch the yu choy or your choice of vegetables for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove then set aside. Bring the same pot of water to a boil again then cook the wide rice noodles for 1 minute or until softened. If using dried noodles, follow the package instructions to prepare the noodles. Drain the noodles well.
12 To assemble the noodle bowl, place one serving of noodles in a bowl. Top with yu choy and the sliced char siu. Garnish with sliced peppers and the green part of the scallions. Ladle the soup over the noodles. Serve and enjoy!
