Craving a delicious dinner that’s both healthy and packed with flavor? This Asian-inspired ground pork recipe is your answer.
It’s a perfect balance of savory and aromatic ingredients, offering a satisfying meal that’s quick and easy to prepare. Ideal for a busy weeknight, this dish brings a taste of Asian cuisine right to your home.
Enjoy it with your favorite side of rice or veggies for a complete and nourishing dinner experience.
Steps
- Begin by cooking rice according to package instructions or using a rice cooker. If using a pot, rinse the rice multiple times and measure water using the finger method. Boil, then simmer for 25 minutes, and let it steam off-heat for 10 minutes.
- Heat a large pan or wok on high, and add ground pork or beef. Cook undisturbed until the bottom is dark brown, flip, and repeat on the other side.
- Once the meat is fully cooked, stir in 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and break up the meat, cooking until evenly browned. Remove the meat from the pan and set it aside.
- Reduce heat to medium-high and drain excess oil, leaving about a tablespoon. Add onions and mushrooms, sautéing until the mushrooms are slightly browned.
- Incorporate carrots and cook for an additional 5 minutes. If using grated carrots, add them with the next step instead.
- Stir in ginger, garlic, cayenne powder, rice vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, then add leafy greens. Cook until the greens are wilted, and mix the meat back into the pan.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, adding the remaining soy sauce if needed. Serve the stir fry over the prepared rice and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked brown rice
- Approximately 1.5-2 cups water
- 8-12 oz ground pork or beef (or other ground meat), equivalent to ½-3/4 lb
- 1 ½ cups mushrooms, sliced
- ½ medium onion, sliced into wedges or diced
- 1 cup carrots, julienned or cut into matchsticks
- 3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 4 cups chopped leafy greens (such as bok choy, spinach, kale, collards, or chard)
- 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce, divided
- ½ tablespoon rice vinegar, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon cayenne powder or red pepper flakes
- Garnish: sesame seeds and green onions
Nutritional Values
Calories: 1480 kcal | Carbohydrates: 180 g | Protein: 68 g | Fat: 56 g | Saturated Fat: 20 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24 g | Cholesterol: 164 mg | Sodium: 3356 mg | Potassium: 3012 mg | Fiber: 16 g | Sugar: 12 g | Vitamin A: 32800 IU | Vitamin B1: 4 mg | Vitamin B2: 1.6 mg | Vitamin B3: 28 mg | Vitamin B5: 8 mg | Vitamin B6: 4 mg | Vitamin B12: 1.6 µg | Vitamin C: 52 mg | Vitamin D: 0.4 µg | Vitamin E: 4 mg | Vitamin K: 596 µg | Calcium: 300 mg | Copper: 1.6 mg | Folate: 352 µg | Iron: 12 mg | Manganese: 8 mg | Magnesium: 476 mg | Phosphorus: 1232 mg | Selenium: 72 µg | Zinc: 12 mg | Choline: 92 mg
FAQ
- Can I substitute the ground pork with another type of meat?
- Yes, you can use ground turkey, chicken, or beef as alternatives. You may need to add a bit of oil if using leaner meats like turkey or chicken.
- What can I add to make the stir fry more flavorful?
- You can enhance the flavor by adding sesame oil, fish sauce, coconut aminos, sriracha, or sambal oelek.
- Is it possible to make this recipe gluten-free?
- Absolutely! Use tamari instead of soy sauce to make this dish gluten-free.
- Can I prepare the dish with different vegetables?
- Yes, feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand, such as bell peppers, broccoli, or green beans. Stir fries are versatile and great for using up leftover vegetables.
- How can I reduce the fat content in the recipe?
- You can cook the pork and then drain off some of the fat before adding the sauce and vegetables. Alternatively, mix the ground pork with leaner meats like ground turkey or chicken.
Tips
- Brown the Pork Properly: Allow the ground pork to brown on one side before breaking it up. This helps to develop a deeper flavor through the Maillard reaction, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
- Customize Your Vegetables: Feel free to substitute vegetables based on your preferences or what you have on hand. Broccoli, bell peppers, or even shrimp can be great additions to the stir fry.
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: Opt for the best quality ground pork you can afford, as this can make a difference in flavor and health benefits. Consider mixing pork with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Perfect Your Rice Cooking: For perfectly cooked rice, use the “finger method” to measure water. Place your fingers flat on top of the rice, and fill the water up to the first knuckle. This method adapts to different pot sizes and helps achieve the right water-to-rice ratio.
Equipment
- Wok or Large Skillet – Essential for stir-frying and achieving the best results with this recipe.
- Rice Cooker – Ideal for cooking rice perfectly and with ease.
- Grater – Useful for grating fresh ginger and garlic.
- Julienne Peeler or Mandoline – Handy for cutting vegetables like carrots into matchsticks.
- Grease Saver or Grease Bags – Useful for managing and storing excess grease from cooking pork.
