Singapore Lor Mee

Ingredients

• 600g pork belly, cut into chunks
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 2 shallots, sliced
• 1 tsp five-spice powder
• 1 star anise
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 3 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 6 cups water or pork stock
• 3 tbsp tapioca starch mixed with 4 tbsp water
• 1 egg, beaten
• 500g fresh yellow noodles
• 2 cups bean sprouts
• 150g fried fish cake, sliced
• Black vinegar, minced garlic and chopped chili, to serve
• Chopped cilantro, to garnish

Before you cook

• Cut the pork belly into chunks.
• Peel the hard-boiled eggs.
• Mix the tapioca starch with water into a slurry.

Steps

1. Heat a little oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add the garlic, ginger and shallots and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add the pork belly, five-spice, star anise and cinnamon stick.
4. Stir in the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce and sugar.
5. Pour in the water or stock.
6. Bring the pot to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the pork is tender.
7. Add the peeled hard-boiled eggs to the pot for the last 10 minutes of simmering.
8. Lift out the pork and eggs, and set them aside to rest, keeping the braising liquid in the pot.
9. Strain the braising liquid and discard the star anise and cinnamon stick.
10. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning so it is savory and slightly sweet.
11. Bring the strained broth back to a simmer.
12. Stir in the tapioca starch slurry and keep stirring until the gravy thickens and turns glossy.
13. Drizzle in the beaten egg in a slow stream while stirring gently, so it forms thin ribbons.
14. Slice the rested pork belly.
15. Blanch the bean sprouts and noodles briefly in boiling water, then drain.
16. Divide the noodles and bean sprouts among 4 bowls.
17. Ladle the hot thickened gravy over each bowl.
18. Top with sliced pork belly, half an egg and sliced fish cake.
19. Finish each bowl with a splash of black vinegar, a little minced garlic, chopped chili and cilantro.