Shortcuts to Scrumptious Japanese Food
“Buta no Shōgayaki”: Tender and Tasty Japanese Ginger Pork
Guideto Japan
Culture
Whether part of a home meal or a packed lunch, this ginger pork recipe is certain to tingle the taste buds and satisfy appetites. The zesty bite of ginger and savory flavor of pork goes well with rice, making buta no shōgayaki a perennial favorite in Japan. Sliced beef or chicken can be substituted for a different take on this classic dish.
- English
- 日本語
- 简体字
- 繁體字
- Français
- Español
- العربية
- Русский
Ingredients (serves 2–3)
- 300 g thinly sliced pork loin (beef or chicken can also be used)
- 2 tbsp grated ginger
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- Salt, to taste
- Four-quarter sauce:
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp mirin (sweet cooking sake; if not available, increase sugar and sake to 3 tbsp each)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sake
Directions
- Combine ingredients for the four-quarter sauce and grated ginger in a bowl. Add pork slices and marinate for 10 minutes.
Ginger pork seasoning sauce. (© Nippon.com)
- In a frying pan heat sesame oil on medium heat. Remove excess sauce from pork slices and fry briefly on both sides.
- Lastly, add the sauce to the pan and allow it to coat the pork slices. Before serving, check the flavor and add a pinch of salt if needed. Chopped scallions or leafy vegetables like cabbage can also be added during this last step for added texture and flavor.
Cooking Tips
- Buta no shōgayaki is a standard dish in dining rooms across Japan. It is also a lunchtime favorite, appearing in bentō boxes and on restaurant menus.
- Pork belly can be used if sliced pork loin is not available.
- Substituting thinly sliced beef or chicken for pork also makes a tasty dish.
- For the best results, add the seasoning sauce to the frying pan while the pork slices are still slightly pink.
- After removing the pork slices, briefly simmer the remaining sauce and spoon it over the meat on your serving dish.
- As with any dish, it’s best to set all the seasonings within easy reach before you start cooking.
- Having the four-quarter sauce ready to go ahead of time makes for a smoother cooking process. You will be more likely to overcook a dish if you have to spend time grabbing and mixing the different seasonings while the heat is on.
