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Aromatic Korean Pork Collar with Sweet and Spicy Gochujang Marinade

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Prepare for an explosion of flavors with this authentic Korean marinade! The sweet and spicy depth of gochujang paste, combined with aromatic ginger and sesame, creates an unforgettable experience. Pork collar marinated in this way gains a beautiful, shiny appearance, a delicate caramel note, and an unparalleled taste that is perfect for grilling.

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Aromatic Korean Pork Collar with Sweet and Spicy Gochujang Marinade
Prep time 15 min
Cook time 10 min
Servings
🍳
Difficulty Medium
Category Meat dishes
Cuisine Asian
Occasion BBQ / Picnic, May Long Weekend

Ingredients

Składniki marynaty

  • 1 kg pork neck — (slices approx. 1.5 cm or thin strips)
  • 4 tbsp gochujang — (Korean chili paste)
  • 3 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp cane sugar — (or honey)
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil — toasted
  • 2 tbsp sake or mirin — (optional dry white wine)
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp ginger — freshly grated
  • 4 pcs garlic — finely grated
  • 1 tbsp sesame seed — toasted
  • 2 tsp gochugaru chili flakes — (optional, for a spicier version)
  • 3 pcs chive — cut diagonally
  • 1 tsp black pepper — freshly ground

Instructions

Przygotowanie

  1. 1

    In a bowl, mix gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, sake, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic. Stir until a smooth, glossy paste forms.

  2. 2

    Add sesame seeds, gochugaru (if using), and pepper. Add the sliced scallions.

  3. 3

    Cut the pork collar into slices or thin strips (typical for Korean BBQ). Place in a zip-lock bag, pour in the marinade, and thoroughly massage the meat for 1-2 minutes.

  4. 4

    Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours (ideally 8-12 hours - I do not recommend longer, as the gochujang will become too dominant).

  5. 5

    Remove the meat 20 minutes before grilling. Do not wipe off the marinade – the sugars should caramelize.

  6. 6

    Grill on a very hot grill rack for 2-3 minutes on each side (thin slices) or 5 minutes (thicker slices). Be careful - the sugar burns quickly!

  7. 7

    Sprinkle with fresh scallions and sesame seeds. Serve with lettuce leaves (ssam), kimchi, and rice.

Notes

Where to find gochujang? Gochujang paste is readily available in most Asian grocery stores, as well as in the "world cuisine" sections of larger supermarkets. If you can't find it, you can try substituting it with a mixture of: 2 tablespoons of miso paste + 2 tablespoons of hot chili paste + 1 teaspoon of sugar. Keep in mind, however, that the original paste offers a much deeper and more authentic flavor.

Traditional serving method (ssam): Classically, a piece of grilled pork collar is wrapped in a fresh butter lettuce leaf, adding a bit of rice, a thin slice of garlic, and a pinch of ssamjang paste. This is an absolute classic on the Korean table, which allows you to enjoy the complexity of flavors and textures.

Tips for charcoal grill: Due to the presence of sugar in the marinade, the meat burns easily. Avoid direct grilling over very high flames. Instead, move the meat to an area with moderate temperature, or if you have one, use a gas grill on medium power. This will help to achieve perfect caramelization without burning.