Pork and broccolini stir-fry with kimchi comes together in a flash, making it an ideal weeknight dinner. (Deb Lindsey / For the Washington Post)

Pork and broccolini stir-fry with kimchi comes together in a flash, making it an ideal weeknight dinner. (Deb Lindsey / For the Washington Post)

Big, bold flavor of kimchi elevates simple weeknight dish

It revs up the seasoning of a stir-fry so you can pare down the ingredient list.

Jarred kimchi — available in the refrigerated sections of most large grocery stores — might be the ultimate healthful convenience food. It instantly adds a kick of tangy, pungent, spicy flavor, as well as nutrition: Because it is a fermented food, it’s a source of gut-friendly probiotics — bacteria that are not only good for digestive health but also help the immune system in general.

Flavorwise, this staple of Korean cuisine can be transforming when you layer it on a simple sandwich, use it as topping for a grain bowl or fold it into a taco. And, as showcased in this recipe for pork and broccolini stir-fry with kimchi, it immediately revs up the seasoning of a stir-fry so you can pare down the overall ingredient list and still get big, bold flavor.

After browning lean strips of pork (you could substitute chicken breast or beef sirloin), you stir-fry onion and broccolini until they are charred a bit and softened. (Broccolini is especially convenient here because there is no need to blanch it.) Then garlic and ginger hit the pan before a slurry of broth, cornstarch and soy sauce is poured in to create a lovely, thickened sauce. The kimchi goes in toward the end — just to warm it through gently — because cooking it too long would destroy the good bacteria in it. A dash of hot sauce and a sprinkle of fresh scallions provide a finishing punch.

There is not much prep to do for this dish overall, but be sure to have all of it done before you start cooking. This dish comes together very quickly, making it an ideal weeknight dinner.

Pork and broccolini stir-fry with kimchi

1¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

1 pound pork tenderloin (may substitute thinly cut chicken or beef sirloin)

⅛ teaspoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons canola oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced into half moons

8 ounces broccolini (tough ends trimmed), large stalks halved lengthwise

2 cloves garlic, minced

2-inch piece peeled, grated or minced fresh ginger root (about 1 tablespoon)

10 ounces store-bought kimchi, chopped (1 cup)

2 teaspoons gochujang or 1 teaspoon sriracha, or more as needed

2 large scallions (white and green parts), thinly sliced

Whisk together the broth, cornstarch and soy sauce in a liquid measuring cup, until the cornstarch has dissolved.

Cut the pork crosswise into medallions ¼ inch thick, then cut each medallion in half. Sprinkle the pork with the salt.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet or wok over a medium-high heat. Add half the meat and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring once or twice until it has browned. Repeat with another tablespoon of oil and the remaining pork, transferring the meat to a plate once it has browned.

Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Then add the onion and broccolini; cook for 3 minutes, or until they have softened slightly and are charred in spots, then stir in the garlic and ginger; cook for 30 seconds more.

Give the broth mixture a quick stir to reincorporate, then add it to the pan. Increase the heat to high and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring to form a slightly thickened sauce. Stir in the pork with any accumulated juices, the kimchi and the gochujang or sriracha; cook for 2 minutes, until just warmed through and the pork and broccolini are evenly coated. Taste, and add more gochujang or sriracha, as needed.

Stir in the scallions. Serve over rice. Serve hot.

Makes 4 to 6 servings. Nutrition per serving (based on 6): 200 calories, 20 grams protein, 10 grams carbohydrates, 9 grams fat, 1 grams saturated fat, 50 milligrams cholesterol, 590 milligrams sodium, 3 grams dietary fiber, 2 grams sugar.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.