Chinese-Style Gochujapchae (Spicy Vegetable and Pork Stir-fry)
The Ultimate Home-Style Gochujapchae Recipe! Perfect for Parties and Impressing Guests.
Recreate the authentic Chinese restaurant flavor of Gochujapchae right in your own kitchen! This vibrant dish features tender pork and crisp, colorful vegetables that create a delightful explosion of flavors and textures. It’s especially wonderful served with warm steamed buns (Hwa-bbang), making each bite feel like a blooming flower! For more culinary inspiration, visit our YouTube channel. 🙂
This Gochujapchae is not just delicious but also visually stunning, making it an ideal choice for special occasions, dinner parties, or when you want to impress your guests with a sophisticated yet approachable Chinese dish. The interplay of crunchy vegetables, succulent pork, and a perfectly balanced sauce promises a memorable dining experience.
Ingredients
- Pork (for stir-fry or thinly sliced) 120g
- Scallion (white part mostly) a small amount
- Chives a small amount
- Red bell pepper 1
- Green bell pepper 1
- Onion 1/2
- Egg yolk 1
- Potato starch or cornstarch a small amount
- Soy sauce 1 Tbsp
- Doubanjiang (fermented broad bean paste) 1½ Tbsp
- Sugar 1½ Tbsp
- Oyster sauce 1½ Tbsp
- Sesame oil a small amount
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the vegetables. Peel the onion, wash it thoroughly, and then slice it into approximately 0.5cm thick pieces. Slicing them not too thinly will help maintain a pleasant crispness after stir-frying.
Step 2
Wash the chives well and pat them dry. Cut them into lengths similar to the onion slices, about 5-7cm long. Chives cook quickly and can become mushy if overcooked, so it’s best to add them towards the end.
Step 3
For the bell peppers, remove the stems and seeds. Clean them thoroughly, then slice them lengthwise into strips about 0.5cm wide. The colorful bell peppers will add a beautiful visual appeal to your Gochujapchae.
Step 4
Now, let’s marinate the pork. For stir-fries, using oyster sauce instead of salt and pepper adds a great umami depth and simplifies seasoning. In a bowl, combine the pork with 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1½ Tbsp sugar, and 1½ Tbsp oyster sauce, mixing well. Next, we’ll create a coating. Add 1 egg yolk and a small amount of potato starch (or cornstarch) to the pork. Gently mix and knead until the pork is evenly coated. This starch coating will make the pork incredibly tender and help it absorb the sauce beautifully. Finish by adding a little cooking oil to prevent the pork pieces from sticking together during cooking.
Step 5
With the pork marinated and coated, heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the pork until it’s golden brown and cooked through, as if you’re deep-frying it. Break up any clumps with chopsticks or a spatula as you cook. Frying the pork this way not only gives it a wonderful texture but also seals in the juices, keeping it moist and flavorful.
Step 6
In a wide pan, add a little oil and stir-fry the sliced onions until they become fragrant. Then, add the sliced red and green bell peppers and stir-fry them together. Cook the vegetables just until they begin to soften slightly, retaining their crispness. Now, add the pre-fried pork back to the pan along with 1½ Tbsp of doubanjiang. Stir-fry everything quickly to ensure all ingredients are well combined. The rich flavor of the doubanjiang will elevate the overall taste of the dish.
Step 7
Finally, add the prepared chives to the pan and stir-fry briefly. Chives cook very quickly; overcooking will make them lose their vibrant color and become soggy. Just stir-fry them enough to wilt slightly, preserving their fresh aroma and color. Once everything is combined, turn off the heat and drizzle in a little sesame oil for an extra layer of fragrance.
Step 8
Transfer the finished Gochujapchae to a serving plate, arranging it attractively. Presentation is key, so aim to showcase the vibrant colors of the vegetables. This dish is absolutely delicious served with warm steamed buns (Hwa-bbang) or over steamed rice. Enjoy this delightful Chinese-inspired meal!
