Weeknight-friendly Spicy Korean Pork or Jeyuk Bokkeum. A fast and easy stir fry that’s on the table in less than 20 minutes! Tantalizing, addictively spicy flavors. Serve with rice and lettuce wraps for an extra delicious and simple meal.
What is Korean Spicy Pork or Jeyuk Bokkeum?
Korean Spicy Pork, also known as Jeyuk Bokkeum, is a spicy Korean pork dish that’s stir-fried in a hot pan. An easy way to enjoy BIG Korean flavors — fast!
The bold and exciting flavor comes from thinly sliced, well-marbled pork butt. A tender, extra flavorful cut of pork, it’s the perfect vehicle for a fast stir fry. Also, the Korean seasoning — Gochujang (Korean chili paste), Mirin (sweet cooking wine), and lots of onion, garlic, and ginger. The grate Korean pear also adds subtle sweetness.
Mix together the 5-minute marinade. Then throw into a wok or nonstick skillet. An easy and delicious way to get dinner on the table!
The end result? Juicy, flavorful, tantalizingly spicy Korean pork. An easy, quick way to enjoy all that BIG Korean flavor! On the table in 15 minutes!
Ingredients:
- Thinly sliced pork butt/shoulder. Thinly sliced, well-marbled pork butt or shoulder is tender and full of flavor. Look for this cut of meat at the Asian market. Or, buy a whole pork butt and thinly slice it at home. (For easier slicing, freeze for 20-30 minutes first).
- Gochujang. Fermented Korean chili paste. Lots of umami, spicy-sweet flavor in this thick paste!
- Onion. You’ll need one large onion for this recipe. Grate half into a juicy pulp. Chop the other half into thick slices.
- Garlic + Ginger. Essential aromatics. Don’t skimp on the amounts!
- Korean Pear. Grated pear adds sweetness and texture. Can be subbed with a ripe, juicy pear or sweet apple like Fuji.
- Sugar. Sweetness to balance all the spice.
- Mirin. Korean/Japanese sweet cooking wine.
- Soy sauce. Lots of umami depth.
- Sesame oil. A drizzle adds nutty fragrance and flavor.
Instructions:
- Marinate pork. Combine marinade, pork, and sliced onion. Mix thoroughly.
- Stir Fry. In a hot wok, add marinated pork. Cook on high heat until pork is cooked through and some parts are crispy-looking, about 6-8 minutes.
- Garnish and enjoy! Transfer to a plate and garnish with green onion and sesame seeds. Serve with lettuce wraps and rice for a complete meal. Kimchi, Ssam Sauce or Gochujang Sauce are also nice additions.
PRO Tips:
- Heat the wok properly. For crispy, smoky Jeyuk Bokkeum, make sure to properly heat the wok. The wok should be slightly smoking before the oil is added.
- The recipe easily doubles. For a larger portion, simply double all the ingredients. But make sure to cook in batches so the meat doesn’t steam.
Helpful Kitchen Tools:
- Wok or skillet. A carbon steel wok is the ideal cooking tool. The deep well makes it easy to toss the spicy pork around. Also, it conducts heat well to give Jeyuk Bokkeum that smoky char.
- Large metal spatula. For tossing and turning the spicy pork. I like a large fish spatula (affiliate) as it’s very sturdy and makes it easy to scrape the sides.
FAQ:
Where can I find Gochujang?
Gochujang can be found in Korean grocery stores or in the international aisle at regular grocery stores. There are different heat levels but I usually choose medium spicy.
How do I store Gochujang?
Gochujang keeps best in the fridge. Make sure it’s tightly sealed so it doesn’t dry out. It will keep in the fridge for a long time, like ketchup.
Other Easy Korean recipes:
- Korean Beef Bulgogi
- Cold Buckwheat Soba Noodles with Perilla Oil
- Carbonara Tteokbokki with Bacon
- Korean Street Toast
- Ramdon (Chapaguri) with Steak
Spicy Korean Pork (Jeyuk Bokkeum)
Equipment
- sheet pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb thinly sliced pork butt or shoulder
- 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
Marinade:
- 1/2 medium onion, grated
- 1/2 Korean pear, grated
- 1/2 cup Gochujang Korean chili paste
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 inch ginger, minced
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mirin
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Make marinade. In a large bowl, add gochujang, grated onion, grated pear, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, mirin, sugar, and sesame oil.
- Mix together. Add pork and sliced onion to bowl. Mix well until everything is well combined.
- Stir Fry. Heat up a wok or skillet on high heat. When it's slightly smoking, add 1-2 Tbsp of neutral oil. Swirl so the oil covers the bottom of the wok. Add marinated pork and onion. Cook until pork is cooked through and some parts are crispy-looking, about 6-8 minutes. Use a spatula to mix the pork around.
- Garnish and enjoy. Transfer pork to a serving plate. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired. Serve with lettuce wraps and rice for a complete meal. Ssamjang and kimchi are also nice additions.
Love this recipe! Easy, fast and yummy! Highly recommend!
Thanks, Karen! So glad you enjoyed this dish!!