Sweet Soy Glazed Pork Stir-Fry for Babies
Easy and Delicious Soy Pork Stir-Fry Recipe – Perfect Baby Food Side Dish
Introducing an easy and delicious baby-friendly soy pork stir-fry! This recipe is perfect for a nutritious and tasty meal for your little ones.
Ingredients
- Pork shoulder or stir-fry cut 600g
- Green onion 1/2 stalk
- Soy sauce 6 Tbsp
- Minced garlic 2 Tbsp (or 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced)
- Sugar 2 Tbsp
- Vinegar 2 Tbsp
- Cooking wine (Mirin) 2 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Pear juice drink (like ‘Bae Um’ or crushed pear drink) 250ml (1/2 cup)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 600g of pork, ideally a stir-fry cut like pork shoulder, which has a good balance of lean meat and fat for stir-frying. Use kitchen paper towels to gently pat and remove any excess blood from the pork. This step helps reduce any gamey odor and allows the marinade to penetrate better.
Step 2
Wash the green onion thoroughly and then cut it lengthwise in half. Slice it into long, 5-7cm pieces. Cutting them not too thinly will make them easier for babies to eat.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the delicious marinade. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp of minced garlic (you can also finely mince 2-3 whole cloves), 2 Tbsp of sugar, 2 Tbsp of vinegar, 6 Tbsp of soy sauce, 2 Tbsp of cooking wine (like mirin), and 1 Tbsp of sesame oil. Mix everything well until thoroughly combined. Preparing the marinade in advance will save you time when cooking.
Step 4
Here’s a tip for making the pork extra tender! Instead of the hassle of pureeing fresh pears, use 250ml (about 1/2 cup) of a commercial pear juice drink (such as ‘Bae Um’ or crushed pear juice). The natural sugars in the pear juice will help tenderize the meat beautifully.
Step 5
Add the blotted pork to the prepared marinade. Use your hands to gently massage the marinade into the meat, ensuring it’s well coated. Pork stir-fry cuts often come in thin slices stuck together. Gently separate these slices as you mix them into the marinade. This ensures the seasoning penetrates evenly and helps the meat tenderize more effectively.
Step 6
Finally, add the sliced green onions to the marinated pork and give it a gentle toss to combine. The green onions will add a fragrant aroma to the dish.
Step 7
It’s best to let the marinated pork rest in the refrigerator for at least half a day (4-5 hours) to allow the flavors to meld. If you prepare everything in the container you’ll use for marinating and refrigerating, it also reduces the amount of washing up! If you’re short on time, even a 30-minute rest will make a difference. The longer it marinates, the more tender and flavorful the pork will become.
Step 8
Voila! Your deliciously marinated pork is ready to be cooked. I prepared this the night before and refrigerated it, then cooked it for lunch the next day. Visually, the pork looked noticeably more tender. Heat a wide pan and add all 600g of the marinated pork at once. Instead of stirring immediately, let the bottom layer of pork sear and caramelize for a minute or two until it’s slightly browned. This technique helps to lock in moisture and develop a richer, more savory flavor. Pro tip: Some recipes, like Chef Ryu Soo-young’s, suggest adding a little cooking oil to achieve a ‘charcoal-grilled’ flavor. However, for babies, this can be too intense, so I’ve omitted the oil for a milder taste.
Step 9
If you have any mushrooms on hand, feel free to add them to the pan. They’ll add an extra layer of umami. Once the bottom of the pork is cooked, begin to stir-fry, tossing the pork to ensure it cooks evenly. Keep an eye on the heat to prevent the marinade from burning.
Step 10
And there you have it – a tender, sweet, and savory soy glazed pork stir-fry made with lean pork shoulder, perfect for babies and toddlers! They’re sure to fall in love with its delightful flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. This dish is a fantastic side for rice or a great addition to lunchboxes!
