Delicious Jjajangbap (Black Bean Noodles with Rice)
Delicious Jjajangbap (Black Bean Noodles with Rice)
Homemade Jjajangbap Recipe: Chinese-Style Stir-Fried Black Bean Sauce with Rice
A recipe for authentic black bean sauce and stir-fried rice using ‘Chunjang’ (Korean black bean paste).
For the Black Bean Sauce- 1 medium Onion
- 1 medium Potato
- 4 Tbsp Chunjang (Korean black bean paste)
- 500g Ground Pork
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- Plenty of Cooking Oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the vegetables for the black bean sauce. Peel and dice 1 medium potato and 1 medium onion into small cubes, about 0.5 cm. Smaller pieces will blend better with the sauce.
Step 2
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a deep pan or wok over low heat. Add 4 tablespoons of Chunjang and fry it for about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. If the Chunjang is clumped, break it apart with chopsticks while frying. Drain the fried Chunjang on a sieve and set it aside in a separate bowl.
Step 3
Using the same pan (adding a little more oil if needed), add 500g of ground pork and stir-fry over medium-high heat. It’s important to cook the pork until it’s mostly browned and no longer pink.
Step 4
Once the pork is about 70% cooked, add the diced potatoes and onions you prepared earlier. Continue to stir-fry for about 5 more minutes, allowing the vegetables to soften and meld with the pork.
Step 5
When the vegetables and pork are partially cooked, add the fried Chunjang back into the pan. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Continue to stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes to develop the rich flavor of the Chunjang.
Step 6
Pour in 300ml of water to create the base for the black bean sauce. Bring it to a boil over high heat.
Step 7
Once the sauce is boiling, add 3 tablespoons of sugar. Sugar helps balance the bitterness of the Chunjang and adds a savory depth.
Step 8
To thicken the sauce, prepare a cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with about 3-4 tablespoons of water until smooth. While the jjajang sauce is simmering, gradually add the cornstarch slurry a ladleful at a time, stirring constantly with chopsticks or a ladle. Adjust the consistency by adding more slurry if needed until it reaches your desired thickness. Be careful not to make it too thick.
Step 9
Finally, add 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce to enhance the umami and flavor. Stir again to ensure the oyster sauce is well incorporated.
Step 10
Simmer until the sauce thickens to your liking, then turn off the heat. The black bean sauce is now ready. Taste and adjust seasoning with more sugar or oyster sauce if desired.
Step 11
Now, let’s prepare the ingredients for the fried rice. Thaw the frozen shrimp in cold water and then chop them into bite-sized pieces. Finely dice 1/2 medium carrot and chop 1/2 large scallion. Prepare a handful of peas (frozen or canned are fine).
Step 12
Crack 3 eggs into a bowl, add a pinch of salt, and whisk them well. The whisked eggs will add a creamy texture to the fried rice.
Step 13
Heat a little cooking oil in a pan for the fried rice over low heat. Add the chopped scallions and slowly stir-fry until fragrant, creating ‘scallion oil’. This oil is a secret to delicious fried rice.
Step 14
Once the scallion oil is fragrant, turn the heat to high and add the prepared shrimp. Stir-fry quickly until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
Step 15
When the shrimp are almost cooked, add the diced carrots and peas. Stir-fry over high heat to cook the vegetables while keeping them crisp.
Step 16
Once all the ingredients are cooked, push them to one side of the pan. Pour the whisked eggs into the empty space and scramble them. Once the eggs are softly set, mix them with the other ingredients.
Step 17
Add about 400g of cooked rice (approximately 2 bowls) to the pan. Use a spatula to break up the rice and stir-fry everything together until well combined. Ensure the rice grains are separated and slightly toasted.
Step 18
Finally, season with salt to taste. Taste the fried rice and adjust the salt level according to your preference. Your delicious Jjajangbap is complete! Spoon a generous amount of the prepared black bean sauce over the fried rice and enjoy!
