I’m beaming with excitement. In exactly one month, I’ll be off to England for two weeks! I’m ready for my regular cuppa, biscuits (many, many biscuits), warm cornish pasties (hand pies), and muesli in the morning. Food always comes first, of course.
Whenever I go to England, I always need a few days to reorient myself. I use those days to come to grips with the fact that people drive on the wrong side of the road, traffic circles are scary, my Californian speech sticks out like a sore thumb, and trying to memorize the coins is a lost cause. It’s okay, I’ll just sip a bit more tea to calm the senses.
I’ve made a promise to myself that I’ll try my best not to gain 10 pounds while I’m in England. This problem is REAL. One milk chocolate digestive biscuit quickly turns into 5. One small nibble of a Cadbury’s Flake bar quickly turns into the whole thing. My yearning for good chocolate knows no bounds, but you knew that already.
For those two weeks, it’s highly unlikely that I will have much time in the kitchen. So I’m putting my cooking on hyperdrive right now, starting with this udon bowl with five spice slow cooker pork. I know I’ve waxed poetic about the melt-in-your mouth tenderness of pork from a slow cooker, but I wasn’t exaggerating. There’s just the perfect amount of fat in pork shoulder that makes the meat soft and juicy. The pairing of the pork with udon noodles is just for fun. We’re all about having fun in the kitchen here.
When you’re making udon, just remember that like pasta, the udon noodles with soak up any water in sight. If you want to make this dish into a noodle soup, you should probably prepare a separate pot of broth that you’ll serve with the cooked noodles. I was perfectly fine with them being less soupy. Garnish the noodles with any vegetables you like!
Udon Bowl with Five Spice Slow Cooker Pork
Ingredients
Five Spice Slow Cooker Pork
- 2 lbs (900g) pork shoulder
- 1 tsp five spice powder
- pinch of kosher salt
- 2 cups (480ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 1 piece (1-inch) ginger, sliced
Udon Noodles
- 2 cups (480ml) chicken stock
- 2 cups (480ml) water
- 7 oz (200g) dry udon noodles
- 1 TBS white miso paste, shiro miso
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground white pepper, optional
- 1 stalk of green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Trim the pork shoulder of excess fat and chop it into smaller slices. Rub the five-spice powder and salt all over the meat.
- Add the chicken broth, water, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and meat into the slow cooker. Cook on high for 6 to 7 hours or on low for 8 to 9 hours.
- When the pork is nearly done, take a small pot, and bring 2 cups of chicken stock and 2 cups of water to boil over medium-high heat. When the water is boiling, add the udon noodles into the pot. Let it cook for a few minutes before reducing the heat to medium-low. Add the miso, garlic powder, salt, and white pepper. Next, add the chopped green onions, saving about a tablespoon for garnish. Let the noodles cook for several more minutes, or until the noodles are soft and plump.
- Using a fork, break up the pork, and serve it with the udon. I added a few tablespoons of the broth from the slow cooker to the noodles just to add a bit more flavor. Garnish the bowl with green onions, black sesame seeds, sprouts, cucumber, pickled daikon, or watermelon radishes if you like!
Notes
Want another slow cooker recipe? Try this Asian Slow Cooker Pork with Zucchini, Carrot & Apple Noodles!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
I didn’t know you were going to England. How fun! Yeah! I went once when I was in my mid twenties and I love it over there. Definitely a place I want to go back too. This udon bowl looks so comforting. It’s soooo cold over here right now. I need this to warm me up.
Lisa says
YES! I didn’t book the tickets until a few weeks ago. I’m suuuuper excited. I also don’t think I would be able to deal with the cold weather anymore. I complain when the weather’s in the 50s now.
Sarah | Broma Bakery says
Oh I just LOVE udon! And I’m jealous that you get to nibble on digestive biscuits. Idk what it is about them, but they’re SO. ADDICTING.
Lisa says
I was skeptical about digestives, but they are ridiculous! Especially the chocolate dipped ones. There was a recipe for them on Food52, and I totally want to try it!
francesca says
Absolutely gorgeous! Is it lunch time yet?
Lisa says
Thanks, Francesca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I can’t wait to hear about your trip! Sounds like it is going to be amazing!
Lisa says
Yes! I’ll need to take a ton of photos and share them on here!
Rachael@AnAvocadoADay says
Gorgeous plating! Have fun in England and eat all the chocolate!
Lisa says
Thanks, Rachael! Don’t worry, I’ll be on top of that.
Maggie @HomeSweetJones says
I can’t believe how stunningly beautiful this is! I don’t eat pork but I bet I could make it with chicken and it would still be awesome. Gorgeous!
Lisa says
Thanks, Maggie! YES! Chicken should work well too!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
I was about to congratulate you on your upcoming trip…until I read “whenever I go to England” and instead got insanely jealous that you go there enough that it’s a THING. Please eat multiple biscuits for me.
5-spice pulled pork sounds AMAZING. Bookmarking this one for Lucas – he’ll be quite excited!
Lisa says
Hah! Yes, it’s going to be my third time in four years. Don’t worry, I’ll get on top of that biscuit consumption. Let me know what you two think of the 5-spice pulled pork!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
So it’s time to be completely honest here….I am legit making this, minus the noodles. Well, I will eat it with noodles but instant ramen noodles. That pork is calling me. Heck, it’s hitting on me.
Lisa says
YES, this sounds great with instant ramen. Oh man, you have me craving them right now. I haven’t bought that stuff in years!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Lisa,
love this udon!!! one of my faves!!! so colorful, vibrant and beautiful. . can’t wait to try your Five Spice Slow Cooker Pork. . and wow, England sounds so fun!! I’ve never been. . takes lots of photos!! 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Alice!! After seeing all the lovely photos you post from your trips, I feel like I need to do the same. They might only be of food though because I have a one track mind!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
What a beautiful bowl of goodness! The pork looks perfectly tender. I can’t wait to hear all about your trip to England. I have never been so please eat enough chocolate biscuits for me too 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Ashley I’ll definitely eat all the chocolate biscuits for you! If you ever get a chance you definitely need to visit the other side of the pond! You’re so much closer than I am!
Maggie says
I was crazing for Udon lately and this one looks fabulous! I don’t have a slow cooker, but I believe I can use this combination to create a great braised pork shoulder!
Will you go to London? I’ve only been there and I love the city! Hope you have a great trip and remember the rule, you don’t need to watch your waist while traveling 🙂
Lisa says
Maggie, braised pork should sounds amazing with udon! Definitely give it a try.
Yes! I should be visiting London for a day or two. The last time I went, I visited the British Museum and it was amazing seeing all the artwork that I studied during my art history class in high school!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
So, I know you said you were going to try not to gain 10 lbs. but PLEASE eat an extra chocolate digestive biscuit or 20 for me!
Lisa says
FOR SURE! I’ll keep you updated on my biscuit progress!
Marcy says
I love making pork shoulder in the slow cooker, and this looks really delicious. Lovely photos!
Lisa says
Thanks, Marcy! I recently discovered slow cooked pork shoulder, and I just love the texture of it when it’s done!
Brittany M. says
I absolutely love slow cooker recipes, they are awesome for the cooking impaired such as myself.
Lisa says
Agreed. Slow cooked meat is the best because you can never really overcook it!