Oh so sticky beef noodles with crispy egg
Sticky, saucy noodles that are on the table in 20 minutes? Yes please. Beef, hidden-in-plain-sight veg and noodles get tossed through a sweet and sticky hoisin sauce, then topped with a crispy-edged FREE fried egg. A brilliant midweek dinner when everyone’s hungry ‘NOW’, with any leftovers very welcome in tomorrow’s lunchbox.
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil, we used sesame
- 1 bunch spring onions
- 500g minced beef
- 1 large carrot, finely grated
- 1 large pak choi
- 2 packs straight-to-wok noodles, we used udon
- For the sauce
- 100g hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp chilli flakes, optional, plus extra to serve
- 35ml soy sauce
- 15ml mirin or rice wine vinegar
- 30ml runny honey
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- For the eggs
- 2–3 tbsp oil, we used sesame
- 4 large FREE eggs
- You will need
- Wok or large frying pan
- Separate frying pan
Method
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Slice the white parts of the spring onions and add them to the pan, reserving the green parts for serving.
- Fry the spring onions for 1–2 mins, then add the beef. Fry for 5 mins, until the meat begins to brown and any liquid has evaporated.
- Add the grated carrot. Roughly chop the pak choi, add the white parts to the pan and reserve the softer green leaves for later. Fry for 2–3 mins, until the vegetables start to soften.
- Add all the sauce ingredients and stir through the beef and vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 5 mins, until the sauce has thickened and coats the beef. Stir through the reserved pak choi leaves and allow them to gently wilt.
- Add the noodles and stir through until cooked. Meanwhile, heat 2–3 tbsp oil in a separate frying pan and fry the FREE eggs until crispy around the edges. Take care as the oil may spit.
- Divide the noodles between four bowls and top each with a crispy FREE fried egg. Slice the reserved spring onion greens and scatter generously over the top, adding a few extra chilli flakes for anyone who likes a little heat.
