Spicy Korean Pork Bowl

Step 1

Mince the garlic until the pieces are smaller than a grain of rice—about the size of pencil-tip dots.

Step 2

Mince the ginger until the pieces are about the same size as the garlic, roughly pencil-tip dots.

Step 3

Pour 3 tablespoons gochujang, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon rice vinegar into a small bowl.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic and ginger to the bowl and stir with a spoon until the mixture is smooth and uniform, about 1 minute.

Step 5

Chop the kimchi into bite-sized pieces—roughly 1-inch chunks—and place in a small bowl.

Step 6

Hold the cucumber upright, then slice it lengthwise into thin strips about 1/8-inch thick using downward cuts from top to bottom.

Step 7

Stack the cucumber strips and slice them lengthwise again into thin matchstick-sized pieces, about 1/8-inch wide.

Step 8

Hold each scallion at an angle and slice diagonally across the stalk into thin pieces about 1/4-inch wide.

Step 9

Place a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and wait 1 minute until the bottom is hot—a drop of water should sizzle immediately.

Step 10

Add the pork slices to the dry hot skillet in a single layer (do not crowd; cook in batches if needed) and let sit without moving for 2 minutes.

Step 11

Flip each piece of pork over and cook for another 1–2 minutes until the other side is lightly browned.

Step 12

Push the cooked pork to one side of the skillet, pour the gochujang sauce mixture into the empty space, and stir the sauce for 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant.

Step 13

Stir the pork into the sauce and toss together for 1 minute until all pieces are coated and glistening.

Step 14

Divide the cooked rice between two bowls, placing about 3/4 cup in the center of each, creating a shallow well.

Step 15

Spoon half of the cooked pork and sauce onto the rice in each bowl, piling it in the center.

Step 16

Arrange one quarter of the chopped kimchi to the right of the pork, one quarter of the cucumber matchsticks to the left, leaving the rice visible between them.

Step 17

Sprinkle half of the sliced scallions over the pork and vegetables in each bowl.

Step 18

Sprinkle 0.5 teaspoon sesame seeds over each bowl, focusing on the top of the pork.