Spicy & Sweet Garlic Scape Stir-fry with Pork
Addictive Spicy & Sweet Garlic Scape Stir-fry with Pork!
Introducing a fantastic rice bowl dish featuring the delightful combination of crisp garlic scapes and tender pork! This dish is so popular, similar versions are served at famous Chinese restaurants. Serve it generously over rice for a satisfying meal. It’s simple yet makes for an impressive dining experience.
Main Ingredients- 200-300g fresh garlic scapes
- 200g pork loin, thinly sliced for stir-fry (Japchae-style)
- A small amount of green onion
Seasoning & Other Ingredients- 2-3 Tbsp sunflower oil (or cooking oil)
- 1-1.5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust for spiciness)
- 1 Tbsp ginger wine (Mirin or cooking wine)
- 1 tsp oyster sauce
- 2-3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2-3 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup, adjust for sweetness)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 2-3 Tbsp sunflower oil (or cooking oil)
- 1-1.5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust for spiciness)
- 1 Tbsp ginger wine (Mirin or cooking wine)
- 1 tsp oyster sauce
- 2-3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2-3 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup, adjust for sweetness)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the fresh garlic scapes thoroughly under running water. It’s important to pat them completely dry with paper towels afterwards. Any remaining moisture can cause oil to splatter when stir-frying and can also prevent the garlic scapes from retaining their crisp texture. Once dried, cut the garlic scapes into bite-sized pieces, about 4-5 cm in length.
Step 2
Prepare the pork loin, sliced thinly for stir-frying. Cut the pork into pieces similar in size to the garlic scapes so they cook evenly and blend well together. If you’re concerned about any porky odor, you can marinate the sliced pork with a pinch of black pepper and 1 tsp of ginger wine for a few minutes.
Step 3
Get a wok or a deep pan ready and heat it over medium heat. Once the pan is warm, add 2-3 tablespoons of sunflower oil (or your preferred cooking oil). Finely chop the green onion. Add the chopped green onion to the pan and stir-fry for about 30-40 seconds until it becomes fragrant. This process infuses the oil with a wonderful aroma, adding depth to the dish.
Step 4
Add the prepared pork to the fragrant oil. Use chopsticks or a spatula to separate the pork slices as they cook, ensuring they don’t clump together. At this stage, add 1 tablespoon of ginger wine (or Mirin, cooking wine) to help eliminate any gamey smell from the pork and enhance its flavor. Continue stir-frying until the surface of the pork turns white and is mostly cooked.
Step 5
Once the pork is nearly cooked, add the cut garlic scapes and all the seasoning ingredients (gochugaru, oyster sauce, soy sauce, oligosaccharide) to the pan. Stir-fry everything together. If the mixture seems too dry during cooking, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to moisten it. Adjust the amount of oligosaccharide to suit your preference for sweetness. Ensure all ingredients and seasonings are well combined.
Step 6
Now, stir-fry over high heat for about 3-4 minutes, cooking the garlic scapes until they are tender yet retain a slight crispness. Be careful not to overcook them, as they can become mushy. Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a final touch. This dish is absolutely delicious served generously over a bowl of hot rice!
