Spicy & Sweet Gochujang Pork Belly: A Delicious Home-Style Grill
Spicy & Sweet Gochujang Pork Belly: A Delicious Home-Style Grill
Introducing a way to easily and deliciously enjoy Gochujang Pork Belly, a universally loved dish, right at home! Even without a traditional charcoal grill, you can achieve a wonderfully crispy exterior and juicy interior using a grill pan or an air fryer. The spicy and sweet marinade enhances the rich flavor of the pork belly, making it an irresistible dish that’s perfect with rice!
Main Ingredients- 600g fresh pork belly
Spicy & Sweet Marinade- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste – the key to the flavor!)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes – for color and a pleasant kick)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce (adds umami)
- 6 Tbsp Maesil Cheong (Plum Extract – for natural sweetness and depth)
- 3 Tbsp Mirin or Sake (removes odor and tenderizes)
- 1 tsp Ginger Powder (for a subtle ginger aroma and enhanced flavor)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder (for fragrant notes)
- 50g Onion (finely chopped)
- 50g Pear (pureed or finely chopped – acts as a tenderizer and sweetener)
- 1 stalk Green Onion (white parts mainly)
- 6 cloves Garlic (or 1 Tbsp minced garlic)
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste – the key to the flavor!)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes – for color and a pleasant kick)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce (adds umami)
- 6 Tbsp Maesil Cheong (Plum Extract – for natural sweetness and depth)
- 3 Tbsp Mirin or Sake (removes odor and tenderizes)
- 1 tsp Ginger Powder (for a subtle ginger aroma and enhanced flavor)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder (for fragrant notes)
- 50g Onion (finely chopped)
- 50g Pear (pureed or finely chopped – acts as a tenderizer and sweetener)
- 1 stalk Green Onion (white parts mainly)
- 6 cloves Garlic (or 1 Tbsp minced garlic)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the marinade ingredients. Peel and roughly chop the onion. Wash and cut the green onion, focusing on the white parts. Have the garlic cloves ready. (No need to chop too finely as we’ll be using a blender.)
Step 2
Now, let’s make the delicious marinade. In a bowl, combine the Gochujang, Gochugaru, soy sauce, Maesil Cheong, mirin (or sake), ginger powder, and black pepper powder. These ingredients form the flavorful base.
Step 3
In a blender, combine the chopped onion, green onion, garlic cloves prepared in step 1, and the pear (you can peel it or blend with skin on). Blend until smooth. This vegetable puree, when mixed with the ingredients from step 2, creates a marinade with a rich, deep flavor. Stir everything thoroughly to ensure it’s well combined.
Step 4
Place the 600g of pork belly in a large bowl. Pour all the prepared marinade over the pork. Using your hands, gently massage the marinade into the pork belly, ensuring every piece is well-coated. For best flavor, let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 5
Prepare for cooking in the air fryer. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Arrange the marinated pork belly slices in a single layer, making sure they don’t overlap. Overlapping the meat can lead to uneven cooking.
Step 6
Now it’s time to cook! Select the ‘Grill’ function on your air fryer and cook at 150°C (300°F) for about 10 minutes to sear the surface. (Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model, so check periodically.)
Step 7
After 10 minutes, carefully flip the pork belly slices over. This ensures even cooking on both sides.
Step 8
Continue cooking on the ‘Grill’ setting at 150°C (300°F) for another 5 minutes. Then, increase the temperature to 180°C (350°F) and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the pork belly is golden brown and cooked through with a juicy interior. (Always monitor your air fryer as cooking times can differ significantly between units to prevent burning.)
