Skip to main content

Spicy Pork Bowls with Greens

4.8

(23)

A spicy pork tenderloin bowl with sliced carrots and greens over white rice.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen

Pork tenderloin is inexpensive and widely available. Giving it a bulgogi-influenced makeover makes it flavorful, fast-cooking, and weeknight-friendly.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 1¼-lb. pork tenderloin
3 Tbsp. hot chili paste (such as sambal oelek)
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely grated
1 garlic clove, finely grated
3 Tbsp. soy sauce, divided
2¼ tsp. toasted sesame oil, divided
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, divided
Kosher salt
2 medium carrots, peeled, sliced
1 bunch collard greens or Tuscan kale, ribs and stems removed, leaves sliced
1 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
Steamed white rice, thinly sliced scallions, and gochujang for serving

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Freeze pork tenderloin until firm around the edges, 30–45 minutes.

    Step 2

    Combine chili paste, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce, and 2 tsp. sesame oil in a resealable plastic bag (or medium bowl if you aren’t feeling the plastic). Thinly slice pork with a long sharp knife. Add to marinade, seal bag, and knead to thoroughly coat. Let sit at least 10 minutes and up to 2 hours.

    Step 3

    Heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. When oil is very hot, add half of pork in a single layer; season very lightly with salt. Cook, undisturbed, increasing heat to high if needed, until dark brown underneath, about 1 minute. Toss pork, breaking up with tongs or a wooden spoon, and continue to cook, tossing, until cooked through, about 1 minute more. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with another 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil and remaining pork (you may want to briefly remove skillet from heat when adding more oil so it doesn’t spatter). Wipe out skillet.

    Step 4

    Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in skillet over medium-high. Add carrots and cook in a single layer, undisturbed, until beginning to soften and brown underneath, about 2 minutes. Add collard greens and toss to wilt. Cook, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.

    Step 5

    Combine vinegar and remaining 1 Tbsp. soy sauce and ¼ tsp. sesame oil in a small bowl.

    Step 6

    To serve, divide rice among bowls and arrange pork and vegetables over. Top each with some scallions and a spoonful of gochujang; drizzle with dressing.

Read More
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
This garlicky shrimp scampi version of a classic bisque embraces the technique of blending seafood shells for a luxuriously silky and creamy end result.
A make-ahead pantry salad that's friendly on the wallet too.
The secret to flavorful, never-greasy eggplant parm? Brine the eggplant first.
This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.
Dashi gives a phenomenal boost to all kinds of dishes that crave umami.
Chicken breasts reach their full potential in this spicy, saucy stir-fry with blistered green beans.
This broiled hot honey salmon recipe results in sweet, spicy, glossy fish coated in a homemade hot honey glaze for an easy weeknight dinner or make-ahead lunch.