Spicy Stir-Fried Pork Belly (Jeyuk Bokkeum)
Master the art of Jeyuk Bokkeum, a beloved Korean classic featuring thinly sliced pork belly in a vibrant, sweet-and-spicy gochujang marinade.
Jeyuk Bokkeum is a quintessential Korean home-cooked dish, cherished for its perfect balance of spice, sweetness, and savory depth. Thinly sliced pork belly is marinated in a robust mixture of gochujang, chili powder, and aromatics, then stir-fried until caramelized. Whether served over steaming rice or wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves with garlic and ssamjang, it is a versatile meal that brings the heart of a Korean kitchen to your table.
Ingredients
- 500 g pork belly, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp corn syrup
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 shiitake mushroom
- 1/2 carrot
- 1/2 white onion
- 2 stalks green onion
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- 1Add the gochujang
Begin marinating the pork belly by adding a generous scoop of Korean red chili paste (gochujang) to the bowl of thinly sliced meat. This forms the base of our fragrant and spicy marinade.
Tip: Thinly sliced pork belly is ideal for this dish because it absorbs the seasoning quickly and cooks rapidly without becoming tough. - 2Add the remaining seasonings
Pour the remaining seasoning ingredients over the pork belly. This includes chili powder, soy sauce, sugar, corn syrup, and minced garlic, which together will give the dish its signature sweet and spicy flavor.
Tip: The marinade recipe is the most important part of this dish—ensure you measure the ingredients carefully for the best balance of flavors. - 3Marinate the pork belly
Place the thinly sliced pork belly into a large glass bowl. Add your prepared seasoning mixture and use your hands (protected by food-safe gloves) to thoroughly mix the meat with the marinade until every slice is well coated. Marinating is crucial to ensure the pork absorbs the flavors deeply, resulting in a savory and fragrant dish.
Tip: Massage the seasoning into the meat for about a minute to help the flavors penetrate the thinly sliced pork more effectively. - 4Slice the mushrooms and carrots
While the meat is marinating, prepare the side vegetables. Slice the shiitake mushrooms and carrots into even pieces so they will stir-fry consistently with the meat.
Tip: Having all your vegetables prepped and ready before you start stir-frying will make the cooking process smooth and prevent the meat from burning. - 5Cut the onions
Continue prepping the vegetables by cutting the white onion into even strips and slicing the green onions diagonally. These aromatics will add sweetness and depth to the stir-fry.
Tip: You can wrap this spicy pork belly in various fresh vegetables like lettuce or perilla leaves, making a delicious and balanced meal. - 6Stir-fry the marinated pork
Place the marinated pork belly into a preheated pan and begin to stir-fry. Keep the meat moving constantly as it cooks.
Tip: You need to be very careful when stir-frying this dish because the sugar and marinade on the meat can burn quickly over high heat. - 7Add vegetables to the stir-fry
Once the marinated pork belly has been stir-frying for a while, add your prepared sliced mushrooms, carrots, onions, and green onions directly into the pan. Continue to stir-fry everything together over medium heat until the vegetables are tender-crisp and the pork is fully cooked through.
Tip: Keep a close eye on the pan and stir constantly, as the sugar in the marinade can cause the meat to burn quickly if left unattended.
