Delicious Stir-Fried Peppers with Pork (Gochu Japchae)
Make Delicious Gochu Japchae, a Perfect Match with Steamed Buns
For birthdays or when entertaining guests, try making Gochu Japchae and serving it with steamed buns! It’s a wonderfully festive and flavorful dish that’s sure to impress. ^^
Main Ingredients
- 2 bags green bell peppers (about 200g)
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 3 Korean green chili peppers (Pimang)
- Dried shiitake mushrooms or fresh shiitake mushrooms, appropriate amount (about 3-4)
- 1 medium onion
- 1/3 medium carrot
- 150g pork tenderloin or sirloin, thinly sliced
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash and prepare all the vegetables. For the green bell peppers, Korean green chili peppers (Pimang), and regular bell peppers, remove the stems and seeds. Then, slice them thinly lengthwise into strips, about 0.5cm thick. This will add beautiful color to the dish!
Step 2
Peel the carrot and slice it into thin strips as well. Since vegetables cook at different rates, slicing the carrot a bit thinner than the other vegetables will ensure even cooking.
Step 3
Peel and slice the onion into strips. For the shiitake mushrooms, remove the tough stems and slice both the caps and stems thinly. You can use fresh or rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms.
Step 4
You can choose the cut of pork you prefer. While sirloin (used for japchae) is common, I’m using pork tenderloin for a softer texture. About 150g should be sufficient.
Step 5
Heat 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the prepared pork tenderloin and stir-fry quickly. It’s important to break up the meat as it cooks to prevent clumping. Add 1 Tbsp of cooking wine (Mirin or Cheongju) at this stage to remove any porky odors.
Step 6
Once the pork is mostly cooked and has changed color, sprinkle with a pinch of black pepper powder. Continue to stir-fry until most of the liquid released from the meat has evaporated. Transfer the cooked pork to a separate bowl to cool slightly. This step helps keep the pork tender.
Step 7
Now, let’s stir-fry the vegetables. You can use the same pan (wipe it clean if needed) and heat 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and stir-fry until they become translucent. Sautéing onions first brings out their natural sweetness.
Step 8
As the onions start to turn translucent, add the prepared carrots and stir-fry briefly. Cook them until they are slightly tender.
Step 9
Once the carrots are adequately softened, add the thinly sliced green bell peppers and stir-fry them together. It’s important to maintain the crispiness of the peppers.
Step 10
Along with the green bell peppers, add the vibrant red and yellow bell peppers. Notice how colorful the dish becomes! Stir-fry over high heat to keep the vegetables crisp and fresh.
Step 11
Finally, add the sliced shiitake mushrooms to the pan and stir-fry them with the other vegetables until well combined.
Step 12
Now, return the cooked pork to the pan. Stir everything together to ensure the pork is evenly distributed among the vegetables.
Step 13
Time for the final seasoning! Add 1 Tbsp of oyster sauce and 0.5 Tbsp of sugar. Mix well to coat all the ingredients. Adjust seasoning to your taste if needed. Sprinkle a little black pepper powder for extra flavor. Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in a little sesame oil and give it a quick toss. This adds a lovely nutty aroma.
Step 14
Steam your choice of store-bought steamed buns (Hwa-ppang) until warm. Arrange the warm buns on a serving plate, and generously spoon the prepared Gochu Japchae over them. This makes for a beautiful and delicious Gochu Japchae presentation! It’s a perfect dish for entertaining guests. Enjoy your meal!
