Lee Jung-hyun's 10-Minute Thin-Sliced Pork Belly Gamjatang
A quick and easy Gamjatang recipe by Lee Jung-hyun that substitutes slow-cooked pork back bones with thin-sliced pork belly to deliver rich, savory Korean pork soup in just 10 minutes.
Servings Ingredient Calculator
Default: 2 servings (Adjusts quantities automatically)
🥬 Main Ingredients
- Thin-sliced pork belly200g
- Potato1 medium
- Napa cabbage leaves or dried radish leaves3 leaves
- Perilla leaves10 leaves
- Green onion1/2 stalk
- Cheongyang chili pepper1 pc
- Water or kelp broth600ml
🥣 Sauce & Seasoning
- Korean soybean paste (Doenjang)1.5 tbsp
- Korean chili powder (Gochugaru)2 tbsp
- Soup soy sauce1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tbsp
- Minced ginger0.3 tsp
- Tuna sauce or broth tablet1 tbsp
🌿 Toppings & Garnish
- Perilla seed powder3 tbsp
- Perilla oil1 tbsp
🔄 Ingredient Substitutes & Tips
| Original Ingredient | Recommended Substitute | Characteristics & Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Perilla seed powder | Ground roasted sesame seeds | 1:1 ratio substitute. Adds a nutty sesame flavor instead of perilla's earthy richness. |
| Tuna sauce or broth tablet | Anchovy fish sauce | 1:0.7 ratio (approx. 0.7 tbsp). Great umami, but reduce slightly due to higher salt content. |
| Perilla leaves | Crown daisy or Water dropwort | Equal amount substitute. Replaces perilla aroma with a fresh, herbal scent. |
| Perilla oil | Sesame oil | 1:1 ratio substitute. Yields a stronger toasted aroma instead of perilla oil's deep earthy note. |
| Cheongyang chili pepper | 2-3 Peperoncino or 1 Jalapeño | Substitute for 1 chili. Provides a similar sharp and clean spiciness. |
📊 Estimated Nutrition (Per Serving)
👨🍳 Cooking Steps
Thinly slice the potato into half-moons. Cut the napa cabbage, perilla leaves, green onion, and chili into bite-sized pieces.
In a small bowl, mix doenjang 1.5 tbsp, chili powder 2 tbsp, soup soy sauce 1 tbsp, minced garlic 1 tbsp, minced ginger 0.3 tsp, and tuna sauce 1 tbsp to make the seasoning paste.
Pour 600ml of water into a pot, stir in the sauce paste, add the sliced potatoes and cabbage, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Once the broth boils rapidly and potatoes are half-cooked, separate the thin pork belly slices and add them to the pot.
When meat is cooked, add green onions, chili, perilla leaves, and top with 3 tbsp of perilla seed powder. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
Drizzle 1 tbsp of perilla oil right before turning off the heat.
🌟 Pro Chef Tips
- • Using a vegetable peeler to shave potatoes makes them cook in under 3 minutes.
- • If adding ramen noodles, add an extra 100ml of water and a dash of chili powder.
- • Thinly sliced pork shoulder or beef brisket can also be substituted for pork belly.
⚠️ Avoid Common Pitfalls
- ❌ Adding clumped frozen pork belly can cause messy scum; separate the slices as you put them in.
- ❌ Adding perilla seed powder too early makes the soup too thick and grainy.
- ❌ Cutting potatoes too thick will leave them undercooked within the 10-minute cooking window.
🧂 Spice & Seasoning Adjustments
- • Commercial traditional doenjang yields a cleaner, smoother broth.
- • A single tablespoon of tuna sauce immediately enhances umami without needing hours of bone reduction.
- • Always add perilla seed powder and oil right before serving to keep their volatile aromatic oils intact.
🧊 Storage & Reheating
- • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- • When reheating, the perilla powder will have absorbed liquid; add 50-100ml of water along with fresh perilla leaves and an extra spoonful of perilla powder to refresh the broth.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I use regular pork belly or thin sliced beef brisket instead?
A. Thick pork belly takes longer to cook. Thinly shaved pork belly or beef brisket is recommended to ensure fast cooking and rapid flavor extraction.
Q. Should I skim off the foam while boiling?
A. Briefly skimming off the top foam will give you a cleaner, smoother broth without any muddy texture.
Q. Do I have to slice the potatoes thinly?
A. Since this is a 10-minute recipe, thick potato chunks won't cook in time. Thin slicing or shaving with a peeler is essential.
Q. Can I skip perilla seed powder if I don't have it?
A. Perilla powder provides the iconic earthy body of Gamjatang. If unavailable, finely crushed toasted sesame seeds offer a similar nutty profile.
Q. What should I do if the broth tastes too salty?
A. Depending on your doenjang's salt content, add 50-100ml of extra water along with additional cabbage or perilla leaves to balance the saltiness.