Hearty and Delicious Stir-Fried Pork with Gochujang
Must-Have Side Dish for Solo Living! Making Stir-Fried Pork with Gochujang
I made this as a generous side dish for my child living alone. It’s packed with plenty of pork, making it a filling meal when served over rice! This simple yet delicious stir-fried gochujang recipe will reignite your appetite!
Main Ingredients- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 500g
- Pork shoulder (or front leg) 500g
- Whole garlic cloves 2 handfuls (approx. 20-25 cloves)
- Scallions 3 stalks
- Onion 1
- Cooking oil 2 Tbsp
Pork Marination- Black pepper, 5 twists (approx. 1/4 tsp)
Seasoning- Sugar 3 Tbsp
- Corn syrup 1 Tbsp
- Soju 2 Tbsp (to remove pork odor)
- Sesame oil (perilla oil preferred) 2 Tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds, generous amount (approx. 2 Tbsp)
- Black pepper, 5 twists (approx. 1/4 tsp)
Seasoning- Sugar 3 Tbsp
- Corn syrup 1 Tbsp
- Soju 2 Tbsp (to remove pork odor)
- Sesame oil (perilla oil preferred) 2 Tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds, generous amount (approx. 2 Tbsp)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all ingredients by cutting them into bite-sized pieces. For a good texture, don’t mince the pork and garlic; cut them into larger chunks. Slice the scallions and onion appropriately. Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a deep pan or wok, and sauté the sliced scallions, onion, and whole garlic cloves over medium heat until fragrant.
Step 2
Once the scallions are slightly softened and wilted, add the marinated pork shoulder. The pork can be lightly seasoned with about 5 twists of black pepper to help remove any gamey odors.
Step 3
It’s better to maintain medium heat while stir-frying, rather than low heat. Low heat can release too much moisture, making the cooking process longer.
Step 4
Continue to stir-fry over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the pork is browned and releases a delicious aroma. At this stage, the liquid released from the pork will start to reduce naturally.
Step 5
When the liquid from the pork has reduced sufficiently, turn off the heat temporarily. Add all the prepared seasoning ingredients (gochujang, sugar, corn syrup, soju, and sesame oil) to the pan. Mix well to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed amongst all the ingredients.
Step 6
Once the seasonings are well combined with the ingredients, turn the heat back on to medium and bring to a simmer. As soon as it starts bubbling, reduce the heat to low. Stir occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning, and continue to cook for about 7-8 minutes. This allows the sauce to penetrate the ingredients and develop a deep flavor.
Step 7
Just before turning off the heat, sprinkle a generous amount of toasted sesame seeds. The nutty aroma of the sesame seeds enhances the final dish. Once this is done, your delicious stir-fried pork with gochujang is ready!
Step 8
Cutting the pork and garlic into larger pieces instead of mincing them provided a wonderful chewy texture that made each bite more enjoyable. The flavor profile is a delightful balance of spicy and sweet from the gochujang, without being overly sweet.
Step 9
This recipe yields about 3 small containers of side dish, which is perfect for sharing or packing. Make a generous batch and enjoy it as a staple side dish for meals or pack it in lunchboxes. It’s a hearty side dish that tastes even better the next day!
