Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Pork (Jeyuk Bokkeum)
The Ultimate Rice-Thief: Jeyuk Bokkeum You’ll Never Get Tired Of
Jeyuk Bokkeum is a top contender among dishes that make you want to eat endless bowls of rice. This flavorful stir-fry is guaranteed to be a hit at your dinner table.
Main Ingredients
- 150g Pork Shoulder (sliced into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 Onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 Carrot (thinly sliced or julienned)
- 1/4 Zucchini (half-moons or julienned)
- 1/2 Scallion (sliced diagonally)
- 4 Perilla Leaves (washed, rolled, and thinly sliced)
Seasoning Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp Sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or rice wine)
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce (for umami)
Pork Marinade
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp Sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or rice wine)
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce (for umami)
Pork Marinade
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. In a bowl, combine the pork with 1 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, and 1 tsp black pepper. Mix well and let it marinate for 10 minutes. This step helps tenderize the pork and remove any gamey odors.
Step 2
Prepare the seasoning sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients in a separate bowl: 1 Tbsp gochujang, 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp mirin, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 Tbsp oyster sauce. Stir until well combined.
Step 3
Prepare the vegetables. Thinly slice the onion and carrot. Slice the zucchini into half-moons or julienne it. Slice the scallion diagonally. Wash the perilla leaves, trim the stems, roll them up, and thinly slice them into strips for adding a fresh aroma at the end.
Step 4
Heat a lightly oiled frying pan (about 1/4 cup of cooking oil). Add the marinated pork and stir-fry until it starts to turn white. Then, add 1 tsp of sugar and 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic (or a small amount of chopped scallion) and continue to stir-fry to enhance the flavor. (Adding a little extra sugar here can boost the sweetness.)
Step 5
When the pork is about 50% cooked, add the prepared carrots, zucchini, and onions to the pan. Stir-fry together until the vegetables begin to soften slightly. Once the vegetables are partially cooked, add the prepared seasoning sauce. Increase the heat to high and stir-fry quickly, ensuring the sauce coats everything evenly.
Step 6
When the pork is almost fully cooked and the sauce has thickened, add the sliced perilla leaves. Stir-fry for just about 30 seconds to a minute, until the leaves are slightly wilted but still retain their fresh aroma and crispness. Overcooking the perilla leaves will diminish their flavor and texture. Your delicious Jeyuk Bokkeum is ready to be served!
