Spicy and Savory Zucchini Pork Stew: A Delicious Recipe
#ZucchiniPorkStew #PorkStew #KoreanStew #SpicyStew #HangoverCure
Introducing a delicious Zucchini Pork Stew with a wonderfully spicy and savory broth! The base of gochujang (Korean chili paste) combined with sweet zucchini and rich pork makes this stew perfect for a hangover cure or any meal. It’s surprisingly easy to make at home!^^
Main Ingredients- 500g pork (for stew)
- 1/2 zucchini (sliced thickly)
- 1/2 onion (thickly sliced)
- 1 green onion (sliced diagonally)
Seasoning Ingredients- 4 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 2 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp salted shrimp (including the liquid)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- Pinch of black pepper
- Pinch of coarse sea salt (for final seasoning)
- 4 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 2 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp salted shrimp (including the liquid)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- Pinch of black pepper
- Pinch of coarse sea salt (for final seasoning)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the seasoning for the stew’s deep flavor. In a bowl, combine 4 Tbsp gochujang, 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp doenjang, 2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp salted shrimp (including its liquid for extra umami!), 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp cooking wine, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix all these ingredients thoroughly, except for the coarse sea salt, which will be used later for adjusting the final taste. Preparing the seasoning in advance makes cooking the stew much smoother.
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables for the stew. The more zucchini you add, the sweeter and more delicious the stew will be! Take half a zucchini and slice it about 0.5 to 1 cm thick into half-moon or elongated shapes. Thinly slice half an onion, and slice one green onion diagonally into large pieces. Feel free to add tofu or mushrooms if you like!
Step 3
Now, let’s start cooking the stew. Add the 500g of pork (for stew) to a pot and begin to stir-fry it. It’s best to cook it over medium heat from the start rather than high heat, allowing it to cook gently.
Step 4
The pork I used was pork belly, so it released its own fat. Therefore, I didn’t add any extra cooking oil and just used the natural fat from the pork to stir-fry. If you are using a leaner cut of pork, you might want to add a little cooking oil to prevent the meat from sticking and ensure it fries nicely.
Step 5
Once the pork is cooked to a certain extent and the surface looks lightly browned, add all the delicious seasoning you prepared earlier into the pot. Stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes to allow the seasoning to meld well with the pork. Stir-frying the seasoning first will enhance its aroma and contribute to a more flavorful stew.
Step 6
Now it’s time to add the water that will form the stew’s broth. Pour about 1.5 liters of water into the pot. You can adjust the amount of water depending on your preferred stew consistency. If you like a thicker stew, use a little less water; if you prefer more broth, add a bit more.
Step 7
Once the water starts boiling, add all the prepared zucchini, onion, and green onion to the pot. After adding the vegetables, bring it back to a rolling boil over high heat for a moment. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes until all the ingredients are tender. Cook until the zucchini becomes translucent and soft.
Step 8
The stew is almost ready! It’s time to taste and adjust the seasoning. Take a small spoonful of the stew to taste. If it’s not salty enough, gradually add the coarse sea salt you set aside earlier until you reach your desired saltiness. While salted shrimp can also be used for seasoning, finishing with salt provides a cleaner broth taste.
Step 9
And there you have it! Your delicious and spicy Zucchini Pork Stew is complete. Enjoy it with a hot bowl of rice. It’s truly a rice-stealing dish!
