Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Bean Sprouts with Pork Belly
A Spicy Rice Thief! Delicious Bean Sprout and Pork Stir-fry
The fantastic harmony of spicy sauce, crunchy bean sprouts, and tender pork belly! Introducing Bean Sprout and Pork Stir-fry, perfect as a side dish for rice or a delicious appetizer. Complete a flavorful meal with this detailed recipe that anyone can easily follow.
Main Ingredients
- 300g frozen pork belly (can substitute with other cuts like pork neck or shoulder according to preference)
- 2 handfuls of bean sprouts (approx. 200g)
- 1/3 stalk of green onion (approx. 30g)
Spicy and Sweet Sauce
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes – adjust spiciness)
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste – for deep umami)
- 3 Tbsp sugar (adjust sweetness)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (adjust saltiness)
- 1 Tbsp maesil-cheong (plum extract – for shine and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (for enhanced flavor)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like Mirin – to remove gamey smell)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (for finishing nutty flavor)
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes – adjust spiciness)
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste – for deep umami)
- 3 Tbsp sugar (adjust sweetness)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (adjust saltiness)
- 1 Tbsp maesil-cheong (plum extract – for shine and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (for enhanced flavor)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like Mirin – to remove gamey smell)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (for finishing nutty flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s make the delicious sauce for our bean sprout and pork stir-fry! In a bowl, combine gochugaru, gochujang, sugar, soy sauce, maesil-cheong, minced garlic, and cooking wine. Mix everything thoroughly until smooth, excluding the sesame seeds. The sauce will develop a deeper flavor as it sits.
Step 2
Prepare the green onions by washing them thoroughly. If using thick green onions, first split them lengthwise in half, then thinly slice them into about 0.5cm pieces. This helps the sauce to penetrate better and makes them tastier.
Step 3
Get a large frying pan or wok ready. Spread the washed bean sprouts evenly across the bottom of the pan. The moisture released from the bean sprouts will help the pork cook tenderly, and it’s also great for stir-frying rice later.
Step 4
Arrange the prepared frozen pork belly slices over the bean sprouts. If you don’t have frozen pork belly, other cuts like pork neck or shoulder can also be used. Thinly sliced pork will cook even faster.
Step 5
Now, spoon the prepared bean sprout and pork stir-fry sauce evenly over the pork and bean sprouts. It’s important to spread the sauce widely rather than concentrating it in one spot to prevent it from burning.
Step 6
Turn the heat to medium-high and let’s start stir-frying! While you can start on high heat, it’s best to adjust to medium heat to stir-fry slowly and prevent the sauce from burning or the ingredients from sticking. The aroma of it cooking will surely whet your appetite.
Step 7
Stir the ingredients well to ensure they cook evenly. Once the bean sprouts have wilted and the pork belly is nicely browned, add the sliced green onions and stir-fry for a little longer. The fragrant green onions will add a richer flavor.
Step 8
This is the finishing step! Stir-fry once more after adding the green onions, and it’s complete. If you’d like to add some nutty flavor, sprinkle sesame seeds on top. The sesame seeds are optional, so you can omit them if you don’t have any. Now, enjoy this delicious dish with a bowl of hot rice!
