Pork fried with ginger” is called “shougayaki” in Japanese. Shougayaki is popular among people of all ages in Japan, and it’s a dish that almost everyone has tried at least once. It goes extremely well with white rice and is especially popular among men. The author has never met anyone who dislikes shougayaki. Of course, the author also loves it.
To make shougayaki, pork is marinated in a mixture of ginger, sake, mirin, sugar, soy sauce, and ginger. The flavor is determined by this marinade. Each household may add its own secret ingredients for additional flavor.
Typically, onions are marinated along with the pork, but this can vary from household to household. For example, the author thinly slices carrots, bell peppers, and onions and marinates them together.
The marinated pork, vegetables, and marinade are stir-fried together in a heated frying pan until cooked. It’s also delicious with mayonnaise drizzled on top.
Cabbage is often served as a side dish with shougayaki. This is because shougayaki tends to have a slightly strong flavor, and cabbage helps balance it out. When you take a bite, you’ll experience the sweet and savory taste along with the aroma of ginger. It’s designed to make you crave cabbage after eating shougayaki.
Shougayaki can be enjoyed both as a set meal and as a standalone dish. If ordered as a set meal, it typically comes with rice and miso soup. The combination of shougayaki and white rice is as perfect as afternoon tea with black tea and cake.
You can find shougayaki at restaurants such as teishokuya (set meal restaurants) and izakaya (Japanese-style pubs). However, be aware that seafood-focused izakaya often don’t have it on the menu. You can enjoy shougayaki all over Japan.