"It tastes like a restaurant when grilling at home." Comedian and representative gourmet of the entertainment industry, Kim Jun-hyun, has attracted attention by revealing a 'Half and Half Pork Belly' recipe that can perfectly bring out the flavor of grilled meat at home.
On the 30th of last month, in the KBS2 entertainment program 'Newly Released Convenience Store', Kim Jun-hyun appeared and showcased a cooking method that allows you to enjoy both soy sauce pork belly and seasoned pork belly at the same time. The recipe revealed that day drew viewers' attention with a harmonious blend of deep umami soy sauce base and a spicy gochujang base that whets the appetite.
The first secret to flavor that Kim Jun-hyun pointed out is 'precise scoring'. By scoring the meat evenly on both sides, the seasoning penetrates deeply, and when grilled, the texture becomes tender and the flavor is maximized.
The key seasoning sauce also had a special kick hidden in it. The soy sauce pork belly seasoning included brewed soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine, oligosaccharide, minced garlic, and 'garlic pickled radish broth' to enhance the umami flavor. A small amount of MSG was added to recreate the taste experienced in restaurants. The seasoned pork belly was completed with a golden ratio of gochujang, coarse red pepper powder, and sesame oil for a sweet and spicy addiction.
Most importantly, the 'grilling technique' was crucial. Kim Jun-hyun emphasized the method of preheating the grill on high heat and then reducing it to low heat for grilling. He advised, "You need to shake off the excess seasoning and place it on the grill to prevent the meat from steaming." In particular, he shared a tip that the moisture released during grilling should be wiped away with a kitchen towel, and the seasoning stuck to the pan should be grilled onto the meat to truly bring out the 'grilled flavor'.
In the final cooking stage, the meat was cut into bite-sized pieces and briefly stir-fried on high heat to impart a smoky flavor. Kim Jun-hyun's delicate know-how in the half and half pork belly achieved a quality comparable to that of a professional restaurant, impressing the cast members.
