Korean BBQ Pork Bowl

Get ready for some tasty Korean BBQ Pork Bowls! This dish is inspired to touch your pallet with all the great Korean ingredients and some North American BBQ. If you have not yet discovered one of my favorite things about food is how you can combine not only flavors but elements from different cultures around the world. In This recipe we go on a tour from Korea to the United States piggy backing off our BBQ flavors and fusing them into a Rice Bowl.

The star of this dish is a product I discovered in March of 2023 when I went to the Anaheim convention center attending Expo West where there are lots of new products to display that will be launching in the year to come. 

Do I have to use Pork Chops?

Not at all do you have to use pork chops, you can easily use beef or even a lean pork loin to chicken. But what I have found that's key is allow the meat to marinade for 4 hours minimum and then grilling it or pan searing the meat it turns out to be a great tasting dish. 

Do I have to use Pork Chops?

I love it when people change things up and take my recipe and make it their own. For example, if you don't like heat, maybe not use the Jalapeno or even the Gochujang in the marinade. 

If you can't find all the exact vegetables to pair with rice and meat, I encourage you to play around with whatever vegetables you enjoy the most. I did these raw fresh vegetables but you can cook the onion and bell peppers and in fact it may come out a little better in flavor. 

I met a young man and his family who own their own company called Wangshin based out of Korea with many great products. What I found I loved most was their smoked soy sauce. After falling in love with the taste, I was eager to get a bottle to take home. I had a blast trying it out with different ingredients and discovering what all I could use this for. Although I've come up with several recipes, this one is by far one of my favorites.

Now let's get to the recipe and all the ingredients needed as well as some cooking items and utensils for this dish.

Helpful Items for Making Korean Pork Bowls

• Flint and Flame Knives - I use these daily and have had them for over 2 years. I've yet to sharpen them! Definitely great quality knives. Code CHEFTIM40 to get 40% this knife or their entire website
• Tongs - These are my go-to Tongs 🙂
• Mixing Bowls - Priority Chef mixing bowls have a non-slip bottom that I LOVE! Less mess is always best, right?
• Wire Whisk - Something you'll learn about me...I love OXO brand when it comes to utensil 😉
• Marinade Tray - This Cuisinart one is collapsable! Great for space saving.
• Ramekins - To hold topping ingredients. Make organizing the recipe much easier when precutting everything.
• Small skillet
• Gas Grill or Charcoal Grill - This has been my newest favorite grill! If you're on the hunt for a gas grill...this is it!
• Rice Cooker - This has lasted me for yeeeeears. Aroma has been a great brand.
• Small Skillet - Hexclad pots and pans are my go-to! I've used a ton of different brands but these have truly been a non stick! You won't be disappointed.
• Smoked Soy Sauce - It's not something easily found in stores..but this brand is amazing and ships fast!

Ingredients you'll need for your Korean BBQ Bowl

• Pork Chop Marinade:
  • 2 ½ lbs Bone-In Pork Chops
  • 1 ¾ Cup Soy Sauce
  • ½ Mirin
  • 3 tablespoon Gochujang
  • ½ Cup Smoked Soy Sauce
  • BBQ Seasoning for Pork Chops
• Toppings:
  • 1 Bell Pepper, sliced
  • ½ English Cucumber, diced or sliced thin
  • 2 Fresh Jalapeno's, sliced into rounds (or use pickled jalapeno)
  • ⅓ Sweet Onion, sliced
  • 4 Scallions, green ends diced
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Toasted Sesame Seeds
• 3 Ears of Corn 
  • BBQ Seasoning for Corn
  • Oil (to coat corn)
• Sauce for Topping:
  • 2 tablespoon Smoked Soy Sauce
  • 2 tablespoon Ssamjang
  • 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
  • ½ Cup Soy Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Avocado Oil (or oil of choice, unflavored)
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Ginger, minced
  • 3 tablespoon Honey
• Rice:
  • 2 Cups Uncooked Rice
  • 3 Cups Water

Detailed Instructions for this Korean BBQ Pork Bowl

Prepping Pork Chops and Toppings

Step 1 : To marinade your pork chops, combine smoked soy sauce and gochujang together first mix well to incorporate all the gochujang (taking it from a paste into a liquid). Next, mix in mirin and soy sauce. Place pork chops into a marinade tray or platter and pour the marinade over the pork chops. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

Step 2 : Prepare all your toppings. Slice bell pepper, onion, and jalapeños. Dice cucumber and the green tops from scallions. Place all these items in a tray or bowls.

Making the Sauce

Step 3 : Mix together the smoked soy sauce and the Ssamjang to incorporate it completely so you don't have chunks of Ssamjang in the sauce. Once incorporated add in sesame oil, and soy sauce.

Step 4 : In a small skillet over medium heat, heat up avocado oil. Add in ginger and garlic and cook for 3 minutes. Then, add in honey and cook for another 2 minutes to infuse the honey with the ginger and garlic. Then pour mixture into your sauce topping from step 3 and mix well.

Cook Rice

Step 5 : Take 2 cups uncooked rice and rinse until you see the water is clear. Once rice is clean, place in rice cooker with 3 cups of water. Start cooking rice.

Cook Corn and Pork Chops

Step 6 : Preheat grill to 400°F. Place a light coat of oil on corn and seasoning with a BBQ seasoning and set aside. Allow the grill to sit at 400°F for at least 10 minutes before grilling your corn. Grill corn until cooked through (about 12-15 minutes) turning the corn every 3-5 minutes.

Step 7 : Remove pork chops from marinade and season with your favorite BBQ rub or seasoning. Place on the grill and cook both sides until internal temperature has reached 145°F and then remove from the grill.

Step 8 : While pork chops rest, cut corn away from the cob.

Assemble Korean Pork Bowls

Step 9 : Place rice on the bottom as your base. Add bell pepper, cucumber, onion, jalapeño and corn around the outside of the bowl. Place pork chop on top and drizzle with sauce. Top bowls with scallions and sesame seeds. Option: Slice pork chop before adding to bowl.

What are the "must haves" on your family menus? Let me know your families favorite recipes in the comments! I love gathering ideas from fellow cooks!

Recipe

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