Potsticker Noodle Bowls (Printable Version)

Rice noodles with seasoned pork, vegetables, and savory soy-based sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 8 oz dried rice noodles or lo mein noodles

→ Meat

02 - 1 lb ground pork or chicken

→ Meat Seasoning

03 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
04 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
05 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch
06 - 1/4 teaspoon white pepper or finely ground black pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
08 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1 tablespoon finely minced napa cabbage, squeezed dry (optional)

→ Vegetables and Aromatics

10 - 2 tablespoons neutral oil (canola, vegetable, or peanut), divided
11 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely grated
13 - 4 green onions, thinly sliced with whites and greens separated
14 - 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
15 - 1 cup shredded carrots
16 - 1 cup sliced shiitake or cremini mushrooms
17 - 1 cup bean sprouts (optional)

→ Potsticker-Style Sauce

18 - 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
19 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
20 - 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or hoisin sauce
21 - 1 tablespoon chili-garlic sauce or sambal oelek
22 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
23 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
24 - 1/2 cup chicken broth or water

→ Garnish and Serving

25 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped (optional)
26 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
27 - Lime wedges (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook according to package instructions until just tender, approximately 4–6 minutes for rice noodles or 6–8 minutes for wheat noodles. Drain and rinse briefly with cold water. Toss with a few drops of sesame or neutral oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, white pepper, sugar, and salt. Place ground pork or chicken in a medium bowl. Pour seasoning mixture over the meat and gently mix until just combined and slightly sticky. Fold in finely minced napa cabbage if using. Set aside to marinate.
03 - In a bowl, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce or hoisin sauce, chili-garlic sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar or honey, and chicken broth or water. Whisk until sugar dissolves completely. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
04 - Shred cabbage and carrots, slice mushrooms, and thinly slice green onions keeping whites and greens separate. Rinse and drain bean sprouts if using. Chop cilantro for garnish.
05 - Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Crumble seasoned meat into an even layer. Cook undisturbed for 2–3 minutes until browned with crisp edges, then break up and continue cooking for 3–4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Spoon off excess fat if needed, leaving approximately 1–2 teaspoons in the pan.
06 - Push meat to one side. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the open space, then add garlic, ginger, and white parts of green onions. Stir for 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Mix into the meat.
07 - Add mushrooms and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add shredded cabbage and carrots, then stir-fry for 3–4 minutes until cabbage is wilted but still crisp. Add a splash of water if the pan is dry.
08 - Pour prepared sauce over the meat and vegetables. Toss well to coat evenly. Simmer for 1–2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
09 - Add cooked noodles to the skillet or wok. Toss gently but thoroughly to combine. If too dry, add 2–4 tablespoons water or broth. Add bean sprouts in the last minute of tossing if using.
10 - Taste and adjust seasoning with extra soy sauce, chili-garlic sauce, or lime juice. Stir in half of the green onion tops and turn off heat. Divide between bowls and garnish with remaining green onions, cilantro, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with extra chili-garlic sauce and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every bite captures the savory, garlicky, sesame-rich flavor of potstickers without any folding or pleating.
  • It is faster than making dumplings from scratch and more satisfying than plain stir-fried noodles.
  • You can adjust the heat, swap the protein, and still get that addictive, salty-sweet balance every time.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and taste even better the next day when the noodles soak up more sauce.
02 -
  • Do not stir the meat too early—letting it sit undisturbed creates those golden, crispy bits that taste like the bottom of a perfectly pan-fried dumpling.
  • Rinse the noodles briefly after draining to stop them from overcooking and turning gummy in the final toss.
  • Taste the sauce before adding it to the pan, because adjusting sweetness, salt, or heat at the end is much harder once everything is mixed.
03 -
  • Add a soft-boiled or fried egg on top for extra richness and a luxurious, runny yolk that coats every bite.
  • If you like extra heat, drizzle a little more chili-garlic sauce or a spoonful of chili crisp oil over each bowl before serving.
  • Use a nonstick skillet or well-seasoned wok to get those crispy, caramelized edges on the pork without it sticking or burning.
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