Spicy & Sweet Gochujang Pork Stir-fry (Jeyuk Bokkeum)
The Ultimate Gochujang Pork Stir-fry Recipe: A Husband’s Favorite Korean Side Dish with a Deliciously Spicy & Sweet Sauce
My husband believes that a hearty meal starts with delicious Korean food, and this Jeyuk Bokkeum is one of his absolute favorites! This recipe offers a flavorful, spicy, and sweet stir-fried pork that’s perfect with a bowl of rice.
Main Ingredients- 600g Pork Shoulder or Neck (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 Onion (sliced into thick, approximately 1.5cm strips)
- 1/2 Green Onion (cut diagonally into thick pieces)
Pork Marinating Ingredients- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Cooking Wine (Mirin or Rice Wine)
- 1 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil (or other vegetable oil)
- Pinch of Black Pepper
Spicy & Sweet Stir-fry Sauce- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2.5 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, fine)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (Guk-ganjang or Jin-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Corn Syrup or Oligodang (for gloss and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- Pinch of Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Cooking Wine (Mirin or Rice Wine)
- 1 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil (or other vegetable oil)
- Pinch of Black Pepper
Spicy & Sweet Stir-fry Sauce- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2.5 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, fine)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (Guk-ganjang or Jin-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Corn Syrup or Oligodang (for gloss and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- Pinch of Black Pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the vegetables for the stir-fry. Slice the onion into thick strips, about 1.5cm wide. Cut the green onion diagonally into chunky pieces. Pat the pork slices dry with a paper towel to remove excess blood and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2
In a large bowl, combine the prepared pork. Now, let’s marinate it for the delicious Jeyuk Bokkeum. Add the marinating ingredients: 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp cooking wine, 1 Tbsp grapeseed oil (or any vegetable oil you have), and a pinch of black pepper. Gently mix and massage the marinade into the pork with your hands until well coated.
Step 3
Marinating the pork for a while will make it more tender and help it absorb flavors better. Let it rest for about 10 minutes.
Step 4
While the pork is marinating, let’s make the ‘golden ratio’ sauce that will define our Jeyuk Bokkeum! In a small bowl, combine 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 2.5 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or oligodang for that lovely sheen and sweetness), 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and a pinch of black pepper. Whisk everything together until you have a smooth, flavorful sauce.
Step 5
We’re almost there! Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the marinated pork and start stir-frying it. Think of this as a ‘pre-cooking’ step.
Step 6
You don’t need to add extra oil. Stir-fry the pork over medium heat, flipping it occasionally until it’s about 70-80% cooked. Use chopsticks or a spatula to break apart any clumps and ensure even cooking.
Step 7
Once the pork is mostly cooked, pour in the prepared Jeyuk sauce. Stir-fry everything together, allowing the sauce to coat the pork beautifully. Make sure to stir continuously to prevent the sauce from burning.
Step 8
Finally, add the sliced onion and green onion to the pan. Give it a quick stir-fry! The key is to cook the vegetables just until they are tender-crisp, retaining their fresh crunch. And there you have it – a delicious Gochujang Pork Stir-fry!
