Turn Boring Leftovers into a Gourmet Feast: The Ultimate Pork Cutlet Kimchi Nabe

Hello, food lovers! If you are looking for a hearty, comforting, and incredibly flavorful meal that you can whip up in just 20 minutes, you have come to the right place. Today, we are transforming a simple pork cutlet into a spectacular Japanese-Korean fusion dish: Tonkatsu Kimchi Nabe. Whether you have some leftover delivery tonkatsu sitting in your fridge or a frozen pork cutlet waiting to be cooked, this recipe will elevate it to a whole new level.

Ingredients You Will Need

  • 1 Pork Cutlet (Tonkatsu)
  • 1 Cup of Fermented Kimchi (the sourer, the better!)
  • 1/2 Cup of Kimchi Juice
  • 1/2 Cup of Water
  • 1/4 Onion & 1/2 Green Onion
  • 1-2 Eggs

The Secret Sauce Ratio

  • 1 tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
  • 1/2 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 1.5 to 2 tbsp Soup Soy Sauce
  • 1 to 1.5 tbsp Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Mirin

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pork Cutlet: Fry your pork cutlet until golden and extremely crispy. Cut it into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Aromatize the Oil: In a traditional Korean clay pot (Ttukbaegi) or a regular small pot, add a splash of cooking oil over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onions and green onions until fragrant and slightly translucent.
  3. Cook the Kimchi: Add the chopped sour kimchi and sauté together. Pour in the kimchi juice to deglaze the pot and deepen the flavor.
  4. Build the Broth: Add the gochugaru, minced garlic, soup soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and water. Stir well and bring the delicious red broth to a vigorous boil.
  5. Add the Cutlet: Once the broth reduces slightly and thickens, gently place the sliced pork cutlet right in the center.
  6. The Egg Ribbon: Lightly beat the eggs. Pour the beaten eggs in a circular motion around the edges of the pot. Let it simmer until the egg is softly set. Garnish with some extra green onions and serve immediately with a bowl of steamed rice!

Enjoy this warming, deeply savory, and incredibly satisfying single-serving masterpiece. It is truly the perfect meal for eating alone without feeling lonely!