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Slow-Cooker Asian Pork with Snow Peas, Red Peppers and Soba Noodles

Course Main Course
Cuisine Japanese
Keyword Asian, pork, slow cooker, snow peas, soba
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 25 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author Tom

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • Sriracha to taste
  • 2-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 1/2 pounds pork shoulder trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 12 ounces soba noodles
  • 2 red bell peppers thinly sliced
  • 1/2 pound snow peas trimmed
  • 2-3 scallions thinly sliced on a bias
  • 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts for serving

Instructions

  1. In a screaming hot cast iron skillet, sear the quickly sear pork pieces on all sides, stirring briskly for 4-6 minutes until the pieces start to brown and caramelize a bit. (this step can be omitted, but I think it really adds to the flavor)

  2. In a 4-6-quart slow cooker, stir together the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, oil, ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper. Add the pork and toss to combine. Cover and cook until the pork is tender, preferably on low for 7 to 8 hours or it can be done on high for 4 to 5 hours to shorten the cooking time.

  3. Fifteen minutes before serving, cook the soba noodles for 2½ minutes, adding the bell peppers and snow peas to the water during the last 60 seconds of cooking, stirring gently. Drain, dump into a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking. This will prevent the noodles from getting gummy.

  4. Transfer the pork to a medium bowl and set aside. Pour the cooking liquid into a large skillet and boil until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the pork and toss to combine.

  5. Warm a portion of the noodles and vegetables briefly in a microwave or just toss quickly in a hot pan. Serve the pork over the noodles and vegetables; sprinkle with the peanuts and scallions.

Recipe Notes

NOTE: It's not mandatory to sear the pork. You can skip to Step 2 and just add the raw cubes to the slow-cooker and it will still taste great.