Stir-Fried Pork Belly with Vegetables: A Quick and Delicious Side Dish
Use Up Your Fridge! Super Easy Stir-Fried Pork Belly and Vegetable Recipe
Introducing a fantastic side dish made with thinly sliced pork belly and your leftover vegetables, ready in about 15 minutes. This stir-fry is perfect for when you’re not feeling very hungry, but still want something flavorful to accompany your rice. Enjoy a delicious meal with this simple recipe!
Main Ingredients
- 300g thinly sliced pork belly (daepae samgyeopsal)
- 1/6 carrot (about 30g)
- 1/2 onion (about 75g)
- 1/8 head of cabbage (about 100g)
- 1 red chili pepper (optional, for color)
Seasoning and Marinade
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s marinate the thinly sliced pork belly to remove any gamey odors and enhance its flavor. Place 300g of pork belly in a bowl and add 1 Tbsp of mirin. Mirin is excellent for tenderizing the meat and removing unpleasant smells. Next, add 1/2 tsp of black pepper and 1/2 tsp of salt. Gently mix everything together with your hands. This marinating step will make the pork belly more tender and flavorful.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables. This recipe is perfect for using up any leftover veggies in your fridge! Dice about 1/6 of a carrot (around 30g) and slice 1/2 onion (about 75g) into thick strips or dice them. Shred about 1/8 of a cabbage head (around 100g) into thick pieces. Make sure to wash all vegetables thoroughly and pat them dry before using. For a pop of color, thinly slice 1 red chili pepper diagonally. It makes the dish look more appealing!
Step 3
It’s time to start stir-frying! Lightly grease a heated pan with a little cooking oil. Add 1/2 Tbsp of minced garlic to infuse the oil with a fragrant garlic aroma. Once the garlic starts sizzling and releases its scent, briefly stir-fry it, then add the marinated pork belly. Cooking the pork with the garlic-infused oil will add another layer of deliciousness.
Step 4
Since thinly sliced pork belly cooks very quickly, it’s best to cook it over high heat. Maintaining high heat prevents excess moisture from being released, which helps keep the stir-fry from becoming soggy and preserves the texture of the ingredients. Listen to that satisfying sizzle as the pork cooks!
Step 5
As soon as the pork belly starts to change color and looks slightly cooked, add all the prepared vegetables – carrots, onions, cabbage, and red chili pepper – to the pan. If you are using thicker cuts of pork belly (not the thinly sliced kind), it’s a good idea to cook the pork until it’s partially done before adding the vegetables. This ensures the vegetables retain their pleasant crispness.
Step 6
Now, let’s adjust the seasoning. Since we already marinated the pork, taste the stir-fry and add a little more salt or pepper if you prefer it saltier. I personally like my food a bit more seasoned, so I added an extra pinch of salt and pepper. It’s important to adjust the seasoning to your own preference.
Step 7
Finally, add the sesame oil for that irresistible nutty aroma. Drizzle 1/2 Tbsp of sesame oil around the edges of the pan. The fragrant sesame oil will significantly enhance the overall flavor of the dish. Give it a final quick toss to combine everything evenly. Your delicious stir-fried pork belly and vegetables are now ready to be enjoyed with a hot bowl of rice!
