BBQ and Beans- Korean Style

I decided to go a bit out of my comfort zone and try something new. That was one of my resolutions after all. Being from Texas, we love traditional bbq with all the trimming. In fact, the Poprik family bbq has become and annual affair. Nothing says home cooking like slow cooked meat with a big side of beans. Why not try it with a bit of a different flair? Last week I made Spicy Korean Pork bbq over sweet rice with Seasoned Spinach and Black Soy Beans.

The Spicy Korean BBq was made with thin slices of pork tenderloin, marinated and cooked in a spicy red sauce. This sauce had a bit of kick since it was made with sweet chili sauce, but it wasn't overpowering with spice. The thinly sliced pork tenderloin was marinated for about 8 hours and then cooked in the sauce.

The big surprise of this meal was the black soy beans. These protein packed little guys were hard to find, but definitely worth the effort. My son who NEVER eats beans loved them. He even asked for a second serving- that's totally unheard of for beans in this house. The season spinach was also a nice surprise. The spinach was only blanched for a few seconds, so it stayed a vibrant green and was just beautiful. I will definitely make this meal the next time we are searching for BBQ with a bit of flair!

Spicy Korean Pork Barbecue

Serves 6

1 ½ pounds pork tenderloin cut into ¼ inch slices

3 tbls brown sugar

3 tbls soy sauce

2 ¼ tbls Thai chili paste

¾ tsp ground ginger

1.5 tsp dark sesame oil

½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2 tsp chopped garlic

Combine the pork with the remaining ingredients in a 1 gallon freezer bag and freeze.

Thaw and prepare grill. Place a grilling basket on a grill rack. Remove the pork from the bag and discard the marinade. Place the pork on the grilling baskets and grill for 5 minutes turning frequently or until you reach the desired doneness.

Korean Sweet Black Beans (Kongjaban) Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup black soy beans, washed

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 cup soy sauce

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 Tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)

Preparation:

1. In a small pot, bring water and beans to a boil and cook for 15 minutes.

2. Turn down heat to medium-low and add soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.

3. Stir to combine and continue to cook for 10-15 minutes.

4. If adding seeds, take pot off of heat and stir in sesame seeds.

Pork Loin    Superfoods