If you like spicy, here's a good pork and tofu stir fry that is really easy to make thanks to the availability of a Korean red pepper paste called Go-Chu-Jang in Asian markets.
Go-Chu-Jang is a concentrated paste of red chili, fermented soy beans, sugar, and glutinous rice. It comes in a small plastic rectangular tub stored in the dry goods aisles of Asian grocery stores (or on Amazon here), but once you open the container, you have to refrigerate it. There's also a mild, medium, and hot version, so choose your desired spice level. I'm a wimp, so I almost always get the mild one.
Like miso, a tub of this paste lasts a long time because you typically use a few tablespoons at a time. I mainly use my Go-Chu-Jang for meat marinades, like in this recipe. The paste really adds a nice depth of flavor to the meat, and gives the dish a nice spicy kick. I hope you have a chance to find some Go-Chu-Jang and give this recipe a try!
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| Cut tofu into 16-20 pieces |
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| Stir fry marinated pork under high heat |
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| Transfer pork to bowl |
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| Add tofu in one layer. Sprinkle with salt |
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| Pan fry until browned |
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| Add pork back to pan |
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| Toss gently to mix and finish cooking the pork |
Yields 3 servings
Ingredients:
- ½ lb thinly sliced pork (pork butt, neck or shoulder)
- 1 box of firm tofu (16 oz)
- ½ t salt
- 1 T green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 T neutral oil
Marinade Ingredients:
- 2 T Go-Chu-Jang (Korean hot chili paste)
- 2 T soy sauce
- 1 T sugar
- 1 T mirin
- 1 t rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
Procedures:
1. To thinly slice the pork, freeze the pork in plastic wrap for about 2 hours. Then take it out and slice thinly against the grain.
2. In a bowl, mix together the ingredients for the marinade. Pour over the sliced pork and marinate for at least 1 hour. Better if marinated overnight in the fridge.
3. Rinse tofu and cut the tofu block into about 16-20 pieces. Set aside.
4. Add oil to pan and stir fry the marinated pork over high heat until just slightly under cooked. About 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Set aside.
5. Using the same pan, add in the tofu pieces in one layer. Sprinkle on the ½ t salt and pan fry over medium heat until slightly browned on one side. About 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Add the partially cooked pork slices to the tofu and continue to stir fry under medium heat, tossing gently to mix and finish cooking the pork.
7. Serve garnished with green onions.