Nutritious and Flavorful Pork and Eggplant Stir-fry Recipe
Nutritious and Flavorful Pork and Eggplant Stir-fry Recipe
The Perfect Harmony of Tender Eggplant and Rich Minced Pork: A Delicious Pork and Eggplant Stir-fry
Introducing a visually appealing and incredibly tasty pork and eggplant stir-fry. Elevate your home cooking with this recipe that features flavorful minced pork for a more satisfying and delicious stir-fried dish. It’s perfect as a side dish for rice or as a special treat.
Main Ingredients- 242g minced pork
- 6 fresh eggplants
- 1 sweet onion
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 5 small Korean chili peppers (cheongyang)
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 dried ginger pieces (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil (for stir-frying)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce (chamchi-aek)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil (for finishing)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 dried ginger pieces (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil (for stir-frying)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce (chamchi-aek)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil (for finishing)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
To keep eggplants fresh for longer, it’s best to store them at room temperature in a well-ventilated area, rather than in the refrigerator. Storing them in a basket allowing air circulation helps them dry out slightly without spoiling, maintaining their freshness. This recipe uses eggplants stored this way.
Step 2
First, wash and prepare the main ingredients: 6 eggplants, 1 onion, 1 red bell pepper for color, and 5 Korean chili peppers for a touch of heat. Using a large red bell pepper and small Korean chili peppers will help balance the flavors.
Step 3
After washing and patting the eggplants dry, slice them diagonally into bite-sized pieces. Slicing them about 1 cm thick will result in a pleasant texture when stir-fried.
Step 4
Sprinkle 1/2 Tbsp of salt over the sliced eggplants and let them sit for about 10 minutes to salt-cure. Salting draws out moisture, preventing the eggplants from becoming watery when stir-fried, and helps them absorb seasonings better.
Step 5
Cut the onion in half, remove the stem, and then slice it into medium-thick strips suitable for stir-frying. The sliced onion will add sweetness and depth of flavor.
Step 6
Cut the red bell pepper in half, scrape out the seeds, rinse briefly under running water, and then finely julienne it into short, attractive strips. This will add a beautiful splash of color.
Step 7
Remove the stems from the Korean chili peppers and finely chop them. You can adjust the amount based on your preference for spiciness, but this quantity should provide a pleasant kick.
Step 8
All the vegetable preparation is now complete. Having your ingredients prepped beforehand makes the cooking process much smoother.
Step 9
Now, let’s prepare the essential seasoning. In a small bowl, combine all the measured seasoning ingredients: 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 Tbsp sugar, 2 dried ginger pieces, 2 Tbsp minced garlic, 2 Tbsp cooking wine, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce. Mix them well with a spoon to create the sauce. Note: set aside 2 Tbsp sesame oil for marinating the pork, and the remaining 1 Tbsp sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds for the final seasoning.
Step 10
Here is the star ingredient: fresh minced pork, about 242g. We’ll marinate it to enhance its savory flavor and remove any gamey notes.
Step 11
To the 242g of minced pork, add half (1/2) of the prepared seasoning mixture. Keep the other half of the sauce aside to add while stir-frying the eggplant.
Step 12
Gently knead the minced pork with your hands to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed. Kneading thoroughly will help the flavors penetrate the meat.
Step 13
After marinating, let the pork rest for about 5 minutes before stir-frying. This brief resting period allows the flavors to meld further, resulting in a deeper taste. Now, let’s start cooking.
Step 14
Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the marinated minced pork and break it apart with a spatula as it cooks, stirring until it becomes crumbly and lightly browned. It’s important to break up any clumps to ensure even cooking. Continue to cook until the pork is fully cooked through.
Step 15
Once the minced pork is nicely browned and cooked, lightly squeeze out any excess moisture from the salted eggplants and add them to the pan. Stir-fry them together with the pork, being careful to prevent sticking.
Step 16
Pour the remaining half (1/2) of the reserved seasoning sauce over the pork and eggplant. Reduce the heat to medium-low to prevent burning and stir-fry until the ingredients are well combined and the sauce coats everything.
Step 17
Continue to stir-fry gently as the sauce thickens and the flavors meld into the ingredients. Stir-frying just enough so the eggplant remains tender but not mushy is key to maintaining a good texture.
Step 18
Finally, add the julienned red bell pepper for color and the chopped Korean chili peppers for a spicy kick. Stir-fry briefly; avoid overcooking to preserve the fresh aroma of the peppers.
Step 19
Drizzle in 2 Tbsp of anchovy sauce for an extra boost of umami. Anchovy sauce is a secret ingredient that adds a rich and complex depth of flavor to the dish.
Step 20
Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil for a fragrant finish, and sprinkle generously with 2 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds. Your delicious Pork and Eggplant Stir-fry is now complete!
Step 21
Transfer the finished Pork and Eggplant Stir-fry to a serving dish, presenting it attractively. It’s incredibly delicious served over a bowl of hot rice.
Step 22
Experience the delightful combination of the crumbly texture of the stir-fried minced pork and the tender eggplant. This Pork and Eggplant Stir-fry, with its blend of vegetables and savory seasonings, offers a deep and rich flavor that will make your mealtime truly enjoyable!
