Garlic Scape and Pork Stir-fry: A Rice-Topping Delicacy
Summer’s Finest: Garlic Scape and Pork Stir-fry Recipe for a Flavorful Side Dish or Rice Bowl
I recently received a generous gift of farm-fresh garlic scapes from a friend. These summer beauties were incredibly fresh and crisp! After making stir-fried anchovies and pickles, I had some left over, so I decided to try a slightly Chinese-inspired stir-fry. Served over freshly steamed rice, it was an absolute delight – a true ‘rice thief’! The process is wonderfully simple, so let me share it with you!
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups Ground Pork
- 2 cups Fresh Garlic Scapes
- 10 cm white part of a Leek
- 2 Korean Green Chilies (Cheongyang peppers)
- 2 Tbsp Cooking Oil
Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1/3 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (Rice Wine)
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Corn Syrup (or Honey)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- Pinch of Ginger Powder (or 1/4 tsp grated fresh ginger)
Optional Additions
- Sesame Oil, to finish
- Toasted Sesame Seeds
- Egg (for sunny-side-up)
- Steamed Rice
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1/3 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (Rice Wine)
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Corn Syrup (or Honey)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- Pinch of Ginger Powder (or 1/4 tsp grated fresh ginger)
Optional Additions
- Sesame Oil, to finish
- Toasted Sesame Seeds
- Egg (for sunny-side-up)
- Steamed Rice
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a small bowl, combine all the seasoning ingredients: soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, minced garlic, corn syrup, sugar, and ginger powder. Mix well to create your marinade. Setting this aside makes the cooking process much smoother! Add the ground pork to the seasoning mixture and use your hands to thoroughly combine everything. Marinate the pork in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes; this allows the flavors to penetrate deeply. While the pork marinates, finely mince the Korean green chilies (removing seeds if you prefer less heat) and thinly slice the white part of the leek.
Step 2
Heat the cooking oil in a wok or deep skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sliced leek and stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant, creating a flavorful leek oil. Add the marinated pork to the wok and break up any clumps with your spatula. Stir-fry until the pork is browned and the sauce has thickened, almost to a paste-like consistency. It’s important to cook out the moisture to prevent a watery stir-fry and ensure the flavors are concentrated.
Step 3
Once the pork is well-cooked, add the minced green chilies and the garlic scapes (cut into 4-5 cm pieces after washing) to the wok. Continue to stir-fry over medium heat.
Step 4
The key here is to maintain the crispness of the garlic scapes! Avoid overcooking them, which can make them mushy. Stir-fry for about 5 more minutes over medium heat, until the garlic scapes are slightly tender but still retain a pleasant crunch. Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in a little sesame oil and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Give it a final toss to combine – your delicious garlic scape and pork stir-fry is ready!
Step 5
This stir-fry is fantastic as a standalone main dish. Its savory and umami-rich flavor profile makes it an excellent accompaniment to rice.
Step 6
For a more substantial meal, serve this stir-fry over a bed of freshly steamed hot rice. Top it with a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg. Break the yolk and mix it into the stir-fry and rice for a delightful, Chinese-inspired pork and garlic scape rice bowl. It’s a hearty and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy!
