Korean BBQ Pork Bites with Quick Pickled Red Cabbage

A perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors, paired with tangy pickled cabbage and a creamy egg yolk. This Korean-inspired grill dish is magic on a plate!

Serve with steamed rice and sprinkle with toasted sesame for an authentic experience.

🕒 Prep Time: 20 min
🍳 Cook Time: 10 min
🧊 Pickling Time: minimum 3 hours (preferably overnight)
🍽️ Yields: 2-3 servings

Ingredients

For the Pork Marinade:

350 g pork neck (ceafa de porc), thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced (½ tsp)
1 tsp grated ginger paste
25 g Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
1 tbsp mirin
½ tbsp soy sauce (salty)
½ tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp honey
1 tsp chili flakes
2 tbsp neutral oil
3 tbsp water
Pinch of salt
5 grinds black pepper

For Quick Pickled Red Cabbage:

300 g red cabbage, finely shredded
3 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
½ tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp water
Salt, to taste

To Serve:

Fried eggs (preferably with runny yolks)
3 green onions, sliced
Toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Prepare the Quick Pickled Red Cabbage

Toss shredded cabbage with a generous pinch of salt, massaging until slightly softened and moist.
In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in water, add rice vinegar and fish sauce. Pour over cabbage and mix well.
Pack cabbage tightly in a jar or container, seal and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight for best color and flavor. Shake occasionally.

2. Marinate the Pork

Thinly slice the pork neck perpendicular to the grain.
Mix all marinade ingredients in a bowl until combined. Add pork slices and massage marinade evenly over them.
Let marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour or overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor.

3. Grill the Pork

Heat a grill pan or heavy skillet on high for 5 minutes, no oil needed.
Lay pork slices spaced out, grill 1 minute per side until nicely charred but still juicy. Work in batches if necessary.

4. Serve

Arrange grilled pork on plates with a side of quick pickled cabbage.
Top with fried eggs, scatter sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds over all.
Optional: serve with steamed rice for a full meal.

💡 Tips

Slice pork very thinly to ensure quick, even cooking.
Adjust chili flakes to your heat preference.
Don’t skip the pickled cabbage – it adds a perfect acidic crunch!
Runny yolks create a luscious sauce when broken over the meat.

🎉 Perfect For

Casual weekend dinners
Korean-themed dinner parties
Quick yet impressive meals

📝 Final Thoughts

This dish balances bold Korean flavors with simple prep and speedy cooking. The vibrant pickled cabbage cuts through the richness, while the egg yolk adds silkiness — truly a magical combo that’s sure to impress!