Spicy Miso Pork and Cabbage Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101

Spicy Miso Pork and Cabbage is a stir‑fried and flippantly braised dish that includes tender pork and cabbage coated in a savory, miso‑primarily based spicy sauce. It’s impressed by Hoi Ko Ro (回鍋肉), a traditional Sichuan‑model dish usually tailored in Japanese‑Chinese language eating places. The wealthy, spicy miso taste pairs fantastically with steamed rice, making it each a preferred menu staple at eateries and a comforting, satisfying dinner to get pleasure from at house.

What’s Spicy Miso Pork?

Whereas Spicy Miso Pork (Hoi Ko Ro) isn’t as effectively‑recognized within the U.S. as Chinese language‑American favorites like candy and bitter pork or beef and broccoli, it’s probably the most widespread Chinese language‑impressed dishes in Japan. Over time, it’s additionally turn into a beloved house‑cooked meal, due to variations that make it simple to organize with elements you doubtless have already got in your pantry—or can simply discover at native markets.

In genuine variations of Hoi Ko Ro, pork stomach is first simmered till tender, then stir‑fried with fermented black bean paste and chili sauce. Scrumptious, sure—however a bit an excessive amount of work for an on a regular basis dinner. That’s why house cooks in Japan have simplified the dish to swimsuit busy existence: they use thinly sliced pork stomach (or different cuts) that prepare dinner rapidly, season it with miso paste they already hold at house, and add a splash of tobanjan (doubanjiang) chili sauce, which can also be broadly utilized in Japanese kitchens.

The result’s a flavorful, stir‑fried dish that comes collectively in minutes. Its daring, savory‑spicy style virtually begs to be eaten with a giant bowl of steamed white rice—one of many causes it’s so widespread each at eating places and at house.

Ideas and substitutions for Spicy Miso Pork

Meat choices – Whereas pork is conventional, any chew‑sized protein works effectively on this dish. Thinly sliced beef or small items of rooster prepare dinner rapidly and make nice alternate options. For a vegetarian model, use agency tofu—it holds its form throughout stir‑frying and absorbs the flavorful sauce properly.

Miso choices – Crimson miso works greatest for this recipe as a result of its deep, sturdy taste balances the spicy sauce fantastically. Awase miso (a mix of crimson and white) is one other sensible choice, particularly for those who favor a barely milder style. White miso, then again, is sweeter and far lighter in taste, so it’s not beneficial for this explicit dish.

Vegetable choices – Cabbage is important—in spite of everything, it’s a part of the dish’s identify—however you may add different greens for selection, similar to thinly sliced carrots or Japanese inexperienced peppers (piman). Simply take into account that including too many greens can dilute the flavour of the sauce, so modify the seasoning as wanted.

Extra recipes like Spicy Miso Pork

Braised pork and cabbage in spicy miso flavored sauce

• 7 oz pork stomach or shoulder (thinly sliced)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp sake
• 1 tsp potato or corn starch
• 1/8 cabbage (medium)
• 3 inexperienced onions
• 1/2 tsp ginger (minced)
• 1/2 tsp garlic (minced)
• 1 Tbsp oil

Spicy Miso Sauce

• 1 Tbsp crimson or Awase miso paste
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sake
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1 tsp chili paste (similar to Tobanjan)

• Reduce the pork into giant bite-sized items, sprinkle with salt, sake and starch, and blend effectively. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

• Reduce the cabbage into 2-inch squares. Slice the inexperienced onion into 2-inch lengths. Mince the contemporary ginger and garlic.

• Combine all of the sauce elements in a medium bowl.

• Warmth oil in a wok over medium warmth with minced ginger and garlic. Add the meat and stir-fry till flippantly browned. Add the cabbage and prepare dinner for a few minutes, then inexperienced onions. Pour within the sauce, and prepare dinner for one more couple of minutes. Serve instantly.