Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Pork (Jeyuk Bokkeum)
Master Baek Jong-won’s Style! A Generous and Delicious Jeyuk Bokkeum Recipe
The ultimate home-cooked meal! This Jeyuk Bokkeum features a delightful harmony of spicy and sweet sauce with tender pork. It’s a fantastic way to use up leftover vegetables from the fridge, offering a great texture and flavor that makes it a true rice thief. Today, we’re sharing a stir-fried pork dish in the style of ‘Duruchigi,’ characterized by its spicy and savory taste. It’s easy for anyone to follow!
Main Ingredients- 600g Pork Shoulder or Pork Belly, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 head of well-fermented Kimchi (approx. 300-400g)
- 1 medium Onion
- 2 Cheongyang peppers (Korean chili peppers, for spiciness)
- 1 Red chili pepper (for color)
- 1/2 stalk of Green Onion
Sauce Ingredients- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (for cooking)
- 2 Tbsp Oligodang (corn syrup) or Mulyeot (corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) (use 3 Tbsp for extra spiciness)
- 1/3 Tbsp Ginger powder (or a little ginger juice if unavailable)
- 2 Tbsp Mirim (rice wine for cooking) or Cheongju (or a splash of soju)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- A pinch of Sesame seeds
- A pinch of Black pepper
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (for cooking)
- 2 Tbsp Oligodang (corn syrup) or Mulyeot (corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) (use 3 Tbsp for extra spiciness)
- 1/3 Tbsp Ginger powder (or a little ginger juice if unavailable)
- 2 Tbsp Mirim (rice wine for cooking) or Cheongju (or a splash of soju)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- A pinch of Sesame seeds
- A pinch of Black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the kimchi. Finely chop the kimchi without washing it. While you can use washed kimchi, it’s not necessary as the sauce itself is flavorful and seasoned. Lightly squeeze out excess liquid from the kimchi to prevent the dish from becoming too watery during cooking.
Step 2
In a wide, deep pan, add the 600g of sliced pork. Then, add all the prepared sauce ingredients directly onto the pork: gochujang, soy sauce, oligodang, sugar, gochugaru, ginger powder, mirim, minced garlic, and black pepper. While you can mix the sauce in a separate bowl first, today we’re simplifying the process by adding everything directly to the pan. The mirim (or soju) and ginger powder are essential for removing any porky smell. If you don’t have ginger powder, fresh ginger juice is a good substitute. If mirim is unavailable, a splash of soju works well too.
Step 3
Gently mix and massage the sauce into the pork with your hands, ensuring it’s evenly coated. This helps the flavors penetrate the meat. If you find the seasoning lacking after this step, you can always adjust the taste with a bit more soy sauce while stir-frying.
Step 4
Now, add the chopped kimchi to the pan with the marinated pork and begin to stir-fry. It’s delicious when the pork is sliced thinly enough to cook alongside the kimchi. If the mixture seems a bit dry while stir-frying, you can add a little cooking oil. I chose to cook it without adding extra oil.
Step 5
Peel and cut the onion into halves, then slice it thinly into strips. Add the sliced onion to the pan and stir-fry with the pork and kimchi. The onion will add sweetness and depth of flavor to the dish.
Step 6
As the pork and kimchi cook, if you desire a deeper red color and more spice, add an extra tablespoon of gochugaru. This step enhances both the color and the heat of the dish. You can also start with a total of 3 tablespoons of gochugaru if you prefer. Continue to stir-fry until everything is well combined and fragrant.
Step 7
Once the pork is fully cooked and all ingredients are nicely stir-fried, add the diagonally sliced green onion and the red chili pepper (seeds removed and roughly chopped). Stir everything together gently for a final mix. These additions not only enhance the color but also add a fresh, spicy kick.
Step 8
And there you have it! Your delicious Jeyuk Bokkeum is ready. The sauce has beautifully coated the pork and vegetables, making it look incredibly appetizing. Serve it generously over a bowl of warm rice and enjoy this satisfying and flavorful meal. It’s perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner!
