Savory Spinach & Pork Rice Bowl: A Quick & Delicious Meal
Baek Jong-won’s Style Spinach Pork Stir-fry Rice Bowl Recipe – Thai-inspired Flavors
Enjoy a delightful spinach rice bowl packed with the sweet flavor of fresh spinach. This recipe uses affordable ground pork but delivers an incredibly satisfying taste for its simplicity! It’s a perfect one-bowl meal, boasting a spicy, sweet, and savory profile with a wonderful umami kick, especially when topped with a perfectly fried egg. It’s quick to make, making it an excellent option for a convenient and fulfilling meal. I’ll guide you step-by-step through Baek Jong-won’s recipe for this fantastic dish. Even beginners can master it!
Main Ingredients- Fresh Spinach 150g
- Ground Pork 250g
- Korean Green Chilies (Cheongyang) 4 pieces
- Red Chili Pepper 1 piece
- Garlic 4 cloves
- Sugar 1.5 Tbsp
- Soy Sauce 1/2 Tbsp
- Oyster Sauce 1 Tbsp
- Fish Sauce 1 Tbsp
- Dark Soy Sauce 1 Tbsp (optional, can substitute with regular soy sauce)
For Serving- Cooked Rice 2 bowls
- Eggs 2
- Cooked Rice 2 bowls
- Eggs 2
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thoroughly wash the spinach. Trim off any muddy root parts and cut the spinach into roughly half to prevent tangling during cooking. This ensures the spinach retains its fresh flavor and texture.
Step 2
Lightly smash the garlic cloves with the back of your knife, then finely mince them along with the green chilies. Mincing them together will enhance the aromatic base of your stir-fry.
Step 3
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over low heat. Add the minced garlic and chilies and sauté gently. Cooking them slowly will infuse the oil with their fragrance, creating a flavorful aromatic oil.
Step 4
Add the ground pork to the aromatic oil in the pan. Break up any clumps with your spatula or chopsticks and stir-fry until the pork is no longer pink. Ensure the pork is well-separated for even cooking.
Step 5
Continue to stir-fry the pork until it’s fully cooked, turns white, and any excess liquid has evaporated, leaving behind just the rendered oil. Once the pork is well-cooked, add the sugar.
Step 6
Stir-fry the pork and sugar together until well combined. You’ll start to smell a sweet, caramelized aroma. Next, create a small space in the center of the pan. Pour the soy sauce (1/2 Tbsp) into this empty space and let it bubble and sizzle for a few seconds, allowing it to caramelize slightly. This step adds a wonderful ‘wok hei’ or ‘charred’ flavor.
Step 7
Gently stir everything together to combine the caramelized soy sauce with the pork and other ingredients. This coating step infuses the dish with a rich flavor.
Step 8
Add the remaining sauces: oyster sauce (1 Tbsp), fish sauce (1 Tbsp), and dark soy sauce (1 Tbsp). Stir well to ensure all the seasonings are evenly distributed and continue to cook for a short while.
Step 9
Finally, add the prepared spinach to the pan. Stir-fry briefly until the spinach just begins to wilt. Spinach cooks very quickly, so avoid overcooking to maintain its crisp texture and vibrant color. Once it’s tender, turn off the heat immediately.
Step 10
Let’s make a Thai-style fried egg! Heat a generous amount of oil in a separate pan. Crack the eggs into the hot oil and fry them until the edges are crispy and golden brown, while the yolk remains runny (sunny-side up). For extra crispiness, you can tilt the pan and spoon hot oil over the egg white, or baste it. Be careful not to break the yolk!
Step 11
Serve the warm rice in a bowl. Top generously with the delicious spinach and pork stir-fry. Finally, carefully place the crispy fried egg on top. Your flavorful spinach rice bowl is now ready to be enjoyed! Mix everything together and savor this wonderful meal.
