Savory Pork Rice Bowl with Pork Jowl
A Delicious Pork Jowl Rice Bowl Recipe, Made Without Greasiness
Introducing a pork rice bowl recipe featuring pork jowl, prepared to be wonderfully light and not greasy. This dish offers a delightful balance of rich flavor and refreshing texture.
Main Ingredients- 1 bowl of warm cooked rice
- 150g prepared pork jowl
- 1 cup of seasoned lettuce salad
Seasoned Lettuce Salad Dressing- 5 fresh lettuce leaves
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
Pork Rice Bowl Sauce- 1/2 Onion (thinly sliced)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking wine)
- 100ml Water
- 5 fresh lettuce leaves
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
Pork Rice Bowl Sauce- 1/2 Onion (thinly sliced)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking wine)
- 100ml Water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
For this recipe, I used ‘High Pork Pol-Hanjjeongsal.’ This cut combines ‘Hanjjeongsal,’ meat from the jowl area of a pig’s head, with ‘Pol-sal,’ which refers to the temple area meat. It’s known for its wonderfully chewy texture and rich, nutty flavor.
Step 2
Heat a pan over medium heat and place the pork jowl without any added oil. Pork jowl releases its own fat as it cooks, so you can achieve a wonderfully clean and savory flavor without extra grease. For an enhanced taste, you can lightly season it with herb salt, or a pinch of salt and pepper.
Step 3
Once the pork jowl is nicely browned and cooked on both sides, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. This step ensures a less greasy and more enjoyable eating experience.
Step 4
While the pork is cooking, let’s prepare the delicious sauce for the rice bowl. In a small pot, combine 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Add 1 tablespoon of mirin (or cooking wine) for added depth of flavor, along with 100ml of water.
Step 5
After adding all the sauce ingredients, toss in the half onion, thinly sliced. Slicing the onion thinly will allow it to integrate seamlessly with the rice and sauce when you’re ready to eat.
Step 6
Now, simmer the sauce over medium heat until it thickens slightly. Cook until the onions are tender and the sauce has reduced by about one-third. Taste and adjust if needed – if it’s too salty, you can add a little more water. However, since the pork and lettuce salad will also have seasoning, it’s best to aim for a sauce that isn’t overly salty.
Step 7
Typically, pork rice bowls are topped with a fried egg or other garnishes. Today, however, I’ve opted for a unique twist with a seasoned lettuce salad! The result is reminiscent of wrapping the pork and rice in fresh lettuce, providing a refreshing counterpoint that cuts through any richness. To make the lettuce salad: finely chop the lettuce leaves and mix them with 1 Tbsp gochugaru, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. It’s that simple!
Step 8
Finally, artfully arrange the warm cooked rice in a bowl. Drizzle the prepared onion sauce evenly over the rice. Generously top with the delicious pan-fried pork jowl and the refreshing seasoned lettuce salad. Your impressive pork jowl rice bowl is now ready to be enjoyed!
