This pork roast is roasted with an intense marinade of hoisin sauce, five-spice seasoning and ginger. Five-spice powder includes star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan black peppercorns and cloves or other zesty combinations.

Chinese Dragon Pork Loin Dinner

1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons tomatoe ketchup
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
4 cloves garlic, peeled minced
1 tablespoon grated gingerroot
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring, (optional)
3 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
8 ounces Chinese wheat noodles
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and julienned
1 cup chopped roasted salted peanuts

1. Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, five-spice powder and red food coloring (optional) in a medium saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; allow sauce to cool.
2. Meanwhile place pork in a large dish or pan; season with salt and white pepper. When sauce has cooled, coat pork evenly; marinate for 1 hour (preferably overnight), covered and refrigerated.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
4. Transfer pork to a shallow roasting pan and cook for about 1 1/2 hours, or until internal temperature on a meat thermometer is 160°F (70°C). Let rest out of oven for 10 minutes.
5. Just before pork is done, cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, toss with vegetable oil and hold warm on serving platter.
6. Slice and serve pork on top of noodles garnished with green onions, bell pepper and peanuts. Serve immediately.

Makes 9 servings.

Cooking Tip: Hoisin sauce and five-spice powder can increasingly be found at your neighborhood supermarket along with many other 'ethnic' ingredients; otherwise check with local ethnic and international markets.