Pork and Noodle Salad with Creamy Cashew Nut and Lime Dressing

, from Issue #119. February, 2025
Photography by Josh Griggs.
Pork and Noodle Salad with Creamy Cashew Nut and Lime Dressing

It’s hard to pass up a tasty noodle salad, especially when it has a delicious dressing and lots of crunchy fresh veges in the mix along with juicy slices of pork.

Serves: 4-6

INGREDIENTS

PORK
500 grams pork fillet sea salt and ground pepper
¼ cup Creamy Cashew Nut and Lime Dressing

SALAD
300 grams fresh noodles
2 teaspoons sesame oil
3 cups thinly sliced white cabbage
1 cup each bean sprouts and grated carrot
150 grams cherry tomatoes, cored and halved
½ telegraph cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh coriander leaves

TO SERVE
⅓ cup roughly chopped roasted cashew nuts
¼ cup store-bought crispy roasted shallots
2 teaspoons finely chopped red chilli
lime wedges for squeezing

CREAMY CASHEW NUT AND LIME DRESSING (makes around 300ml)
½ cup smooth or crunchy cashew butter
2 tablespoons each soy sauce and lime juice
1 tablespoon runny honey
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon sriracha chilli sauce (or more for a spicier version)
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic
¼ cup water

METHOD

DRESSING: Blend all the ingredients with a stick blender or in a small food processor until smooth. Add more water if you want a thinner dressing. Set aside in fridge.

Line a shallow baking dish with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 200°C fan bake.

PORK: Put the pork in the baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Brush all over with about 1 tablespoon of the dressing.

Roast for about 12–14 minutes or until only just cooked. If you overcook the pork, it will be dry. Cover loosely and leave to rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing thinly.

SALAD: Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions until just tender. Drain and rinse in cold water until the noodles are completely cold. Drain well, place in a large bowl and toss with the sesame oil so all the noodles are coated.

Add all the remaining salad ingredients and toss to combine.

Drizzle with just enough dressing to lightly coat the salad, reserving the remaining dressing for serving.

TO SERVE: Place the salad on a large serving plate and arrange the pork over the top. Drizzle with a little more dressing and garnish with crushed cashew nuts, shallots and chilli. Squeeze over the lime wedges before eating.