Pork Mince Recipe — Ingredient Analysis: NOVA Scores, Hidden Sugars & Glucose Impact
We analysed every ingredient in this Asian-inspired pork mince recipe. 13 ingredients with individual sauces. The single-jar alternative? 32.8g sugar per 100g and a glucose-fructose syrup you’d never use at home.
Original recipe by
Asian-Inspired Spicy Pork Mince by Jacqueline Bellefontaine at Recipes Made Easy · @recipecrumbs
SpikeSaver Ingredient Analysis
| Ingredient | Qty | NOVA | Hidden Sugars | Glucose | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapeseed oil | 1 tbsp | NOVA 2 | None | Negligible | — |
| Onion | 1, chopped | NOVA 1 | None | Low | 1.5g |
| Root ginger | 2.5cm, grated | NOVA 1 | None | Negligible | — |
| Garlic | 2 cloves | NOVA 1 | None | Negligible | — |
| Lean pork mince | 500g | NOVA 1 | None | Negligible | 110g |
| Sweet chilli sauce | 2 tbsp | NOVA 4 | sugar | Medium | 0.2g |
| Oyster sauce | 2 tbsp | NOVA 3 | None | Low | 0.3g |
| Soy sauce | 2 tbsp | NOVA 3 | None | Negligible | 1.2g |
| Water | 125ml | NOVA 1 | None | Negligible | — |
| Cornflour | 1 tbsp | NOVA 2 | None | Low | — |
| Chinese rice wine | 1 tbsp | NOVA 3 | None | Negligible | — |
| Rice or noodles | To serve | NOVA 3 | None | High | — |
| Fresh coriander | Optional | NOVA 1 | None | Negligible | — |
Per serving (4 servings)
380
Calories
28.3g
Protein
42g
Carbs
10g
Fat
2g
Fibre
Overall verdict
A well-balanced stir fry using individual sauces in measured amounts. The sweet chilli sauce is the only NOVA 4 ingredient. Using separate sauces (soy, oyster, sweet chilli) gives you control over each flavour component — something a single jar sauce removes entirely.
The swap comparison
What happens when you swap from-scratch ingredients for shop-bought shortcuts?
Individual sauces (sweet chilli, oyster, soy) in controlled 2 tbsp quantities
→| Lens | From Scratch | Shop-Bought | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOVA/UPF | Individual NOVA 3–4 sauces, 0 UPF markers combined | Likely NOVA 4, 1 UPF marker (rapeseed oil) | +1 UPF marker |
| Hidden Sugar | 1 sugar source (sweet chilli) | 3 aliases: sugar, glucose-fructose syrup, fructose — sugar-disguising flag | +2 new sugar types; triple the sugar sources |
| Glucose Impact | Low (2 tbsp sweet chilli) | 32.8g sugar/100g, 37.5g carbs/100g | Extreme sugar concentration — a third of the jar is sugar |
| Protein/Macros | Controlled quantities of each sauce | 0.4g protein, 0.84g salt, 161kcal/100g | Almost zero protein; salt replaces fresh flavour |
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