Pork and Asparagus Rice Bowl
Photo: Leo Gong; Styling: Karen Shinto
Cooking the pork and asparagus separately creates layers of flavor and makes this dish more elegant than most meals in a bowl. Prep and Cook Time: 45 minutes. Notes: Read the recipe through before starting, so you'll be ready to do the prep work while the rice and eggs are cooking.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Put eggs in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. When water boils, cover, turn off heat, and let sit 14 minutes. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Transfer eggs to ice water and set aside.
Step 2
2
While eggs are cooking, in a second medium saucepan bring rice, salt, and 3 cups water to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 15 minutes. Take off heat, still covered, and let sit 5 minutes.
Step 3
3
While rice is coming to a boil and eggs are sitting, mix together pork, sake, and 2 tbsp. tamari in a small bowl. Peel and grate ginger. Put 1 tbsp. ginger in with the pork; put remainder in a small bowl and set aside.
Step 4
4
While rice is cooking, peel and roughly chop garlic and chop green onions; add both to bowl of ginger. Trim woody ends off asparagus, cut into 1 1/2-in. pieces, and set aside.
Step 5
5
While rice is sitting, in a large frying pan over high heat add 1 tbsp. oil and pork mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pork is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Meanwhile, fluff rice with a fork and divide evenly between 4 to 6 bowls and set them near the stove. Top rice with pork and pan juices, dividing evenly.
Step 6
6
Return pan to heat and add remaining 1 tbsp. oil, reserved ginger, garlic, and green onions. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add asparagus and remaining 1 tsp. tamari and stir to combine. Add broth, cover, and cook until asparagus is just tender to the bite, 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 7
7
While asparagus cooks, pat eggs dry, peel, and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Divide asparagus and pan juices evenly between bowls of rice and pork. Top each serving with slices of egg and serve immediately.
Step 8
8
Variations:
Step 9
9
Ground turkey: Substitute 1 lb. for the pork for a leaner dinner.
Step 10
10
Brown rice: Use medium-grain brown rice for a nutty and healthful departure from white rice (increase cooking time for the rice to 30 minutes).
Step 11
11
In place of the asparagus, use any of the following in step 6: Fresh spinach, 20 oz., rinsed and any tough stems removed (reduce chicken broth to 1/4 cup); Green beans, 1 lb., ends trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-in. pieces; Broccoli, 2 medium heads, cut into 1-in. florets (increase cooking time to about 4 minutes); Baby bok choy, 4 heads, separated into individual leaves.
Step 12
12
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Ingredients
4 eggs
2 cups medium-grain or sushi rice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound ground pork
1/4 cup sake
2 tablespoons plus 1 tsp. tamari or soy sauce, divided
1 piece ginger, about 4 in. long
3 cloves garlic
6 green onions
2 bunches asparagus
2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil, divided
1 cup chicken broth
Directions
Step 1
1
Put eggs in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. When water boils, cover, turn off heat, and let sit 14 minutes. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Transfer eggs to ice water and set aside.
Step 2
2
While eggs are cooking, in a second medium saucepan bring rice, salt, and 3 cups water to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 15 minutes. Take off heat, still covered, and let sit 5 minutes.
Step 3
3
While rice is coming to a boil and eggs are sitting, mix together pork, sake, and 2 tbsp. tamari in a small bowl. Peel and grate ginger. Put 1 tbsp. ginger in with the pork; put remainder in a small bowl and set aside.
Step 4
4
While rice is cooking, peel and roughly chop garlic and chop green onions; add both to bowl of ginger. Trim woody ends off asparagus, cut into 1 1/2-in. pieces, and set aside.
Step 5
5
While rice is sitting, in a large frying pan over high heat add 1 tbsp. oil and pork mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pork is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Meanwhile, fluff rice with a fork and divide evenly between 4 to 6 bowls and set them near the stove. Top rice with pork and pan juices, dividing evenly.
Step 6
6
Return pan to heat and add remaining 1 tbsp. oil, reserved ginger, garlic, and green onions. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add asparagus and remaining 1 tsp. tamari and stir to combine. Add broth, cover, and cook until asparagus is just tender to the bite, 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 7
7
While asparagus cooks, pat eggs dry, peel, and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Divide asparagus and pan juices evenly between bowls of rice and pork. Top each serving with slices of egg and serve immediately.
Step 8
8
Variations:
Step 9
9
Ground turkey: Substitute 1 lb. for the pork for a leaner dinner.
Step 10
10
Brown rice: Use medium-grain brown rice for a nutty and healthful departure from white rice (increase cooking time for the rice to 30 minutes).
Step 11
11
In place of the asparagus, use any of the following in step 6: Fresh spinach, 20 oz., rinsed and any tough stems removed (reduce chicken broth to 1/4 cup); Green beans, 1 lb., ends trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-in. pieces; Broccoli, 2 medium heads, cut into 1-in. florets (increase cooking time to about 4 minutes); Baby bok choy, 4 heads, separated into individual leaves.
Step 12
12
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
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