Spicy and Savory Pork Belly Soft Tofu Stew (Jjigae)
Spicy and Savory Pork Belly Soft Tofu Stew (Jjigae)
A Richly Flavored Pork Belly and Soft Tofu Stew with Unexpected Charm
Do you have leftover pork belly at home? This Pork Belly Soft Tofu Stew, simmered to a delightful ‘jjja-geul-jjja-geul’ consistency, has a surprisingly captivating flavor. The spicy sauce, tender soft tofu, and savory pork belly make it a perfect dish, especially as a delightful accompaniment to drinks. Get ready to create this enticing pork belly dish!
Ingredients- Pork Belly: 300g, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Soft Tofu: 1 package (approx. 300g)
- Small Onion: 1/2, thinly sliced
- Green Onion: sliced diagonally
- Cheongyang Pepper: 1-2, finely chopped (optional)
- Minced Garlic: 1 Tbsp
- Minced Ginger: a pinch
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste): 1 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili powder): 1 Tbsp
- Soy Sauce (regular): 2 Tbsp
- Sugar: 1/2 Tbsp
- Cheongju (rice wine): 1 Tbsp
- Mirin (cooking wine): 1 Tbsp
- Sesame Oil: 1/2 Tbsp
- Black Pepper: a dash
- Water: 50ml
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash and cut the pork belly (300g) into bite-sized pieces. Feel free to adjust the amount slightly to your preference.
Step 2
Thinly slice the onion, and diagonally slice the green onion and Cheongyang peppers. Adding Cheongyang peppers will enhance the spiciness. Transfer the soft tofu to a bowl and break it into large chunks with a spoon.
Step 3
In a wide pot, combine the cut pork belly with minced garlic, minced ginger, gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar, cheongju, mirin, sesame oil, and a dash of black pepper. Mix well to ensure the seasoning coats the pork belly thoroughly. Gently massage the seasoning into the meat.
Step 4
Place the seasoned pork belly in the pot over medium heat and stir-fry until the pork belly is golden brown and cooked through. The fat from the pork belly will render, adding a delicious richness.
Step 5
Once the pork belly is about halfway cooked, add the sliced onion, green onion, and Cheongyang peppers. Stir-fry together until the vegetables soften and meld with the pork belly.
Step 6
When the pork belly is fully cooked, pour in 50ml of water and bring to a simmer. Make sure the liquid doesn’t reduce too much.
Step 7
Finally, add the prepared soft tofu in large pieces. Gently stir to combine, being careful not to break the tofu too much. Ensure the tofu absorbs the flavors of the sauce.
Step 8
Simmer for a bit longer until the tofu is infused with the flavors of the stew. Your delicious Pork Belly Soft Tofu Stew is ready to be enjoyed with a hot bowl of rice!
