Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Bean Sprouts with Pork
Baek Jong-won’s Home Cooking Recipe: Delicious and Hearty Stir-fried Bean Sprouts with Pork
Hello! This is ‘Igukshik’. Today, we’re making the ever-popular dish, stir-fried bean sprouts with pork! The delightful combination of crunchy bean sprouts and tender pork, coated in a sweet and spicy sauce, makes it an irresistible rice thief. This recipe is for a generous 60 servings, but you can easily scale it down to enjoy with your family at home. We’ve enhanced this classic with Baek Jong-won’s signature touch for an even more delicious result!
Ingredients (Serves 60, adjustable for home cooking)- Pork Loin (or shoulder) 5kg, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Crisp Bean Sprouts 3kg, washed thoroughly
- Onions 3 large, thinly sliced
- Scallions 5 stalks, cut diagonally into large pieces
- Cabbage 1/2 head, cut into 3-4cm square pieces
Spicy & Sweet Stir-fry Sauce- Fine Gochugaru (Korean chili powder) 500g (adjust to your spice preference)
- Rich Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 500g
- Fresh Minced Garlic 300g
- Soy Sauce 500ml
- Mirim (Rice Wine) 200ml (for sweetness and depth)
- White Sugar 500g (adjust sweetness)
- Black Pepper 100g (for aroma)
- Salt 100g (adjust seasoning)
- Oyster Sauce 200g (for umami)
- Sesame Oil 100g (for nutty flavor)
- Fine Gochugaru (Korean chili powder) 500g (adjust to your spice preference)
- Rich Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 500g
- Fresh Minced Garlic 300g
- Soy Sauce 500ml
- Mirim (Rice Wine) 200ml (for sweetness and depth)
- White Sugar 500g (adjust sweetness)
- Black Pepper 100g (for aroma)
- Salt 100g (adjust seasoning)
- Oyster Sauce 200g (for umami)
- Sesame Oil 100g (for nutty flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the star of our dish: the sauce! Combine all the sauce ingredients—gochugaru, gochujang, minced garlic, soy sauce, mirim, sugar, black pepper, salt, oyster sauce, and sesame oil—in a large bowl. Mix them thoroughly until well combined, ensuring there are no lumps. Pre-making the sauce makes it easier to coat the pork.
Step 2
Now, add the bite-sized pork pieces to the prepared sauce. Toss everything together, making sure each piece of pork is generously coated. For a deeper flavor, let the pork marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Step 3
Rinse the bean sprouts under cold running water until clean. Drain them well in a colander. Using fresh bean sprouts is key for that delightful crunch, so it’s best to wash them just before cooking.
Step 4
Thinly slice the onions. Cut the cabbage into roughly 3-4cm square pieces. Don’t worry if they seem large; they will shrink as they cook and add a lovely sweetness.
Step 5
Grab a wide, heavy-bottomed pot or wok. Add a generous amount of cooking oil and the diagonally cut scallions. Sauté over medium heat until fragrant, infusing the oil with a wonderful oniony aroma. This step really boosts the overall flavor.
Step 6
Once the scallions are fragrant, spread the washed bean sprouts evenly across the bottom of the pot. Placing the bean sprouts at the bottom helps them cook evenly and stay moist.
Step 7
Next, arrange the sliced onions and cut cabbage on top of the bean sprouts. These vegetables will release their sweetness as they cook, complementing the pork.
Step 8
Finally, place the marinated pork in the center, on top of the vegetables. Layer the ingredients nicely in the pot.
Step 9
Turn on the heat to medium and cover the pot with a lid. Let it cook for about 10-15 minutes until the bean sprouts have softened and the pork is partially cooked. Then, remove the lid and stir everything gently to combine. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly and coats all the ingredients beautifully. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed—add more salt for savoriness or sugar for sweetness. The dish is ready when everything is tender and flavorful!
Step 10
Serve your delicious stir-fried bean sprouts with pork hot, perhaps with a side of steamed rice. It’s also wonderful served as wraps with lettuce or perilla leaves!
