I came to a realization – I really like ginger. Shortly after I started blogging I noticed I use ginger a lot. Not only do I like the taste, but I love the smell. Maybe I should try some ginger candy some time.
One of my favorite dishes that highlights ginger is pork shogayaki. Four years ago, my dad was hospitalized and the hospital restaurant had shogayaki on its menu. Since then, I have eaten it every time I go to Japan, even though my dad is no longer in the hospital. My trips to Japan don’t feel complete unless I eat shogayaki during my annual trips.
What’s pork shogayaki? Well, “shoga” means ginger and “yaki” means to grill/fry. I use pork, but you can use beef as well. So, it’s basically pork with a gingery sauce. Yum!
The dish is super easy. All you need is the sauce, pork, and cabbage. The sauce includes grated ginger, soy sauce, and mirin. I really love the smell of grated ginger. There’s a sweetness to it as well as a spicy kick. As for the pork, I like to use thin slices and tenderize it by putting light slices into the pork.
The rest is super simple. I brown both sides of the pork – be careful not to overcook or it will get tough. When it’s browned, I pour the sauce over the pork and cook it for a minute or so. I usually flip it once to make sure the sauce gets on both sides. I then plate it with some shredded cabbage and pour the thickened sauce on the pork. Now it’s time to eat!
The pork shogayaki goes well with rice to balance the intensity of the ginger and the sauce. The sauce has a sweetness from the soy sauce and mirin, while the ginger gives it a nice kick (not the type that burns your mouth, but more of a bite). What’s great about shogayaki is that it can be eaten warm or cold (great for bento).
Next time you want something flavorful, but you don’t have a lot time, try making pork shogayaki. You will love it!
Ingredients:
- sliced pork loin
- 2 tbsp grated ginger
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirin
- cabbage
Recipe:
- Grate the ginger and combine with the soy sauce and mirin. Set aside
- Heat oil on medium heat, then brown both sides of the pork
- Pour the sauce on the pork and cook for a minute or so. Flip once during the minute. The sauce will thicken.
- Thinly slice some cabbage and place the pork on the dish with the cabbage. Add remaining sauce from pan to pork.
