Spicy and Sweet Pork Belly and Bean Sprout Stir-fry
Baek Jong-won’s Recipe for Delicious Pork Belly and Bean Sprout Stir-fry (Kong Bulgogi)
Looking for a special dish to kick off your Friday night? This #PorkBellyBeanSproutStirfry is the answer! It’s a crowd-pleaser, featuring the perfect combination of tender pork belly and crisp bean sprouts. Following a style similar to #BaekJongWonKongBulgogi, you’ll stack all the ingredients in a pot, pour over a savory sauce, and let it simmer. As it cooks, the flavors meld beautifully. This dish is perfect as a side for rice or as a tasty appetizer with drinks. Get ready to enjoy this irresistible spicy and sweet stir-fry!
Main Ingredients- 400g thinly sliced pork belly
- 300g bean sprouts
- 1 large leek
- 1/2 onion
- 1 Korean green chili pepper (Cheongyang chili)
Sauce Ingredients- 4 Tbsp soy sauce
- 4 Tbsp rice wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- Pinch of black pepper
- 4 Tbsp soy sauce
- 4 Tbsp rice wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- Pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the bean sprouts thoroughly under running water and drain them completely. Maintaining the bean sprouts’ crispness is key for a great texture!
Step 2
Cut the leek into large diagonal pieces. Slice the onion into thick strips, and finely chop the Korean green chili pepper to add a nice kick. You can also add red chili peppers for extra color and flavor.
Step 3
Now, generously pile the bean sprouts into a pot. Using a smaller pot will help the bean sprouts look more piled up and appealing. Then, arrange the thinly sliced pork belly on top of the bean sprouts.
Step 4
Let’s make the delicious sauce! In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice wine, brown sugar, minced garlic, gochugaru, and gochujang. (Note: Chef Baek Jong-won’s original recipe uses more sugar, but I found this amount to be perfectly delicious. Feel free to adjust the sugar to your preference.)
Step 5
Add the toasted sesame seeds to the sauce mixture and stir everything together until well combined to create the sauce.
Step 6
Arrange the prepared leek, onion, and Korean green chili peppers over the pork belly. (The original Baek Jong-won recipe often includes thinly sliced perilla leaves, which would add a wonderful aroma and depth of flavor if you have them!) Finally, pour the prepared sauce evenly over all the ingredients.
Step 7
Don’t worry about adding any water! As it begins to boil, the vegetables will release their moisture, and the pork belly will render its fat, creating a natural broth. Even though it looks like a mountain of ingredients initially, it will all cook down.
Step 8
Once the ingredients have softened and a sufficient amount of broth has formed, it’s time to mix and stir-fry everything together so the sauce coats evenly. Use tongs or a spatula in both hands to stir and mix, ensuring the sauce is distributed well and preventing anything from burning. Just before it’s done, drizzle in the sesame oil and sprinkle with a pinch of black pepper to complete this mouthwatering Pork Belly and Bean Sprout Stir-fry! (Personally, I felt that adding even more bean sprouts would have been even better!)
Step 9
Serve the finished stir-fry directly from the pot, letting it continue to simmer at the table for maximum flavor. Even though it looks abundant, the deliciousness will make it disappear quickly! Sprinkle some more toasted sesame seeds on top for a final touch.
Step 10
This dish is fantastic as a hearty side dish for rice, and it also pairs wonderfully with a cold beer or soju as an appetizer.
Step 11
After enjoying the main ingredients, don’t forget to stir-fry some rice in the leftover sauce – it’s a delicious treat! If you’re looking for a quick and satisfying meal or a special Friday night dish, this #BaekJongWonRecipe for Pork Belly and Bean Sprout Stir-fry is highly recommended!
