Jeyuk Bokkeum is one of Korea’s most popular spicy pork dishes. It is made by marinating pork in a sweet, spicy, and savory Korean sauce, then stir-frying it with vegetables.

Ingredients

Serves 2–3

• 600 g pork belly
• 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp cooking wine or mirin
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp corn syrup or honey
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• Black pepper

Vegetables

• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• Green onion
• Garlic

Marinade

Mix the gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, corn syrup, minced garlic, sesame oil, and black pepper in a bowl.

Add the pork and mix thoroughly so that the sauce coats every piece.

Let the pork marinate for at least 30 minutes. For a deeper flavor, you can marinate it for 1–2 hours.

Cooking

Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat.

Add the marinated pork and stir-fry until the meat starts to brown and the sauce begins to caramelize.

Add the onion and carrot and continue stir-frying until the vegetables are slightly softened.

Finally, add the green onion and garlic. Stir-fry briefly until fragrant.

Finish with a small drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.

Serve hot with steamed Korean rice and your favorite Korean side dishes.

A simple tip for better Jeyuk Bokkeum

The key is to cook the pork over relatively high heat so that the sauce caramelizes slightly without burning. This gives the dish a richer, deeper flavor and a delicious smoky aroma.

Wishing you a wonderful meal today!