Nutritious Pork and Eggplant Rice
Nutritious Pork and Eggplant Rice
A Delicious One-Pot Meal of Pork and Eggplant Rice with Savory Seasoning Sauce
I always love a meal that’s both healthy and delicious. This rice dish is packed with nutritious eggplant and the ever-popular, irresistible taste of pork. Simply mix it with the savory seasoning sauce, and you’ll have a wonderfully satisfying meal. Even if you have leftover stir-fried eggplant, you can use it to make this healthy and delicious eggplant rice. Enjoy a hearty meal that nourishes your body and delights your taste buds!
Pork and Eggplant Rice Ingredients- 50g minced pork
- 1/2 eggplant
- 1 Tbsp soju (or cooking wine)
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- 2 servings of cooked rice
- 1.5 Tbsp chopped green onion
- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
Seasoning Sauce- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 0.3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 pinch of sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp water
- A little sesame seeds
- A little chopped green onion
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 0.3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 pinch of sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp water
- A little sesame seeds
- A little chopped green onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, roughly chop the eggplant into bite-sized pieces. The eggplant will shrink and soften as it cooks, so using a generous amount will make the dish even more delicious. (If you enjoy the soft texture of eggplant, feel free to add more!)
Step 2
Gently pat the minced pork dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Instead of cooking wine, add 1 tablespoon of soju to help eliminate any gamey odors. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then gently mix and let it marinate for a short while. (If using frozen pork, ensure it’s fully thawed before proceeding.)
Step 3
Rinse the rice thoroughly and let it soak in water for about 20 minutes. This will help the rice cook up fluffy and perfectly textured.
Step 4
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped green onions and sauté them slowly until fragrant, allowing their aroma to infuse the oil. This creates a delicious ‘scallion oil’ base. (Be careful not to burn the onions; adjust the heat as needed.)
Step 5
Once the fragrant aroma of the scallion oil starts to release, add the marinated minced pork. Stir-fry over medium-high heat until the pork is browned and cooked through. You’ll notice a delightful aroma filling your kitchen.
Step 6
When the minced pork is almost fully cooked, add the chopped eggplant. At this stage, adding 0.5 tablespoon of soy sauce will add a subtle umami depth to the ingredients, making it even more flavorful. Sauté just until the eggplant softens slightly; avoid overcooking it to a mushy consistency.
Step 7
Transfer the well-stirred pork and eggplant mixture on top of the cooked rice in your rice cooker. Now, press the ‘cook’ button and let the rice cooker work its magic to meld the flavors beautifully.
Step 8
While the rice is cooking, let’s prepare the accompanying seasoning sauce. In a bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 0.5 tablespoon of red pepper flakes, 0.3 tablespoon of minced garlic, a pinch of sugar, 0.5 tablespoon of sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Mix everything well. For an extra touch of freshness, you can finely chop and add a little green onion.
Step 9
After preparing the delicious sauce, the rice is ready! The topping of pork and eggplant looks so appetizing. If you don’t mind a softer texture for the eggplant, you can gently mix it into the rice as well.
Step 10
Serve the finished Pork and Eggplant Rice in a bowl. Add the prepared seasoning sauce to your liking and mix it with the rice for a flavorful and satisfying meal. Enjoy this hearty dish that’s both healthy and delicious. 🙂
