Spicy & Sweet Korean Pork Stir-fry (Jeyuk Bokkeum)
Jeyuk Bokkeum
On this gloomy Sunday, even though it’s not particularly cold, I felt a lack of energy. This summer, to recharge, I made a delicious spicy and sweet stir-fried pork (Jeyuk Bokkeum) and enjoyed it with fresh lettuce wraps. It’s the perfect dish to boost your spirits!
Main Ingredients
- Pork for stir-fry (pork neck, shoulder, or butt) 600g, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 Onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 Green onion, diagonally sliced
- 1 Tbsp Cooking oil
Seasoning Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp Oligodang (corn syrup or rice syrup)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 tsp Ginger powder
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 3 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine)
- 0.5 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp Oligodang (corn syrup or rice syrup)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 tsp Ginger powder
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 3 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine)
- 0.5 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the pork for Jeyuk Bokkeum (such as pork neck, shoulder, or butt) and cut it into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm. Place the pork in a bowl and add 1 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 0.5 tsp ginger powder, 0.5 Tbsp sugar, and a pinch of black pepper. Gently mix everything together. The sugar helps tenderize the meat and reduce any gamey odors.
Step 2
Let the pork marinate for about 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. This step significantly enhances the depth of flavor in the dish.
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the seasoning sauce. In a separate bowl, combine 2 Tbsp gochujang, 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 2 Tbsp oligodang, 0.5 Tbsp sugar (adjust to your preference), 1 Tbsp mirin, 0.5 tsp ginger powder (optional if unavailable), a pinch of black pepper, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and 0.5 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Mix well until you have a delicious, uniform sauce. Peel and thinly slice the onion, and diagonally slice the green onion into about 5cm pieces. Have them ready.
Step 4
Heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over high heat. Add the marinated pork and stir-fry for a short while until the surface of the meat begins to change color. Cooking the pork quickly over high heat helps to seal in the juices, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.
Step 5
Once the pork starts to brown, add the sliced onion and diagonally sliced green onion. Continue to stir-fry until the onions become translucent and the aroma of the green onions is released. Adding vegetables at this stage adds sweetness and depth to the dish.
Step 6
When the pork and vegetables are partially cooked, add all the prepared seasoning sauce to the pan. Ensure the sauce coats all the ingredients evenly.
Step 7
Using a spatula, continuously stir and mix the pork, vegetables, and sauce together, ensuring everything is well combined. It’s important to manage the heat, perhaps lowering it to medium-low, to prevent the sauce from burning while it thickens and coats the ingredients. Keep stirring to avoid sticking.
Step 8
Once the pork is fully cooked and coated in a glossy sauce, your delicious Jeyuk Bokkeum is ready! Serve it hot with fresh lettuce leaves, perilla leaves, and other wrap vegetables. It’s incredibly satisfying to make a wrap with rice and the stir-fried pork. Enjoy it as a side dish with rice or as a flavorful appetizer!
