Freezer Clean-out Rice Thief Sausage Rice Bowl
An incredibly simple 'rice thief' chicken breast sausage rice bowl made with ingredients you likely already have at home.
📝 Editor's Notes
The chewy and sweet eggplant rice bowl we're introducing today is a super simple recipe that allows you to whip up a healthy and delicious meal even on busy days.
With just a microwave, you can complete a wonderful rice bowl in just 7 minutes, so even those who find cooking difficult shouldn't worry.
The harmonious flavors of pork and eggplant, combined with various vegetables, help maintain nutritional balance.
Especially, the sweet eggplant and savory pork create a flavor that everyone, young and old, will love, making it perfect for a warm lunch or dinner.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
For this rice bowl's star ingredient, eggplant, it's best to choose ones with a smooth, glossy surface and fresh, un-withered stems.
Eggplants that feel firm when lightly pressed are fresh and taste good.
While its peak season is summer, it's now available year-round, so you can enjoy it anytime.
Minced pork hind leg is an excellent choice as it's lean, savory, and affordably priced, offering both health benefits and cost-effectiveness.
For Korean zucchini (애호박), look for light green ones without blemishes and that feel heavy when lifted.
For enoki mushrooms, choose packages that are free of moisture inside and have clean caps.
🔄 Substitution Guide
Instead of minced pork hind leg, you can use minced chicken breast or minced beef.
Chicken breast makes the dish lighter and lower in calories, while beef offers a richer umami flavor.
If you don't have eggplant or don't like it, you can add more Korean zucchini (애호박) or various mushrooms, or substitute with other vegetables like bell peppers or paprikas.
However, keep in mind that the unique chewy texture and sweet flavor of eggplant might be reduced.
If you don't have oyster sauce, you can mix soy sauce and allulose (or sugar) in a ratio of about 2:1 to achieve a similar taste.
Adding a bit more mirin (맛술) to eliminate any gamey odor is also a good tip.
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
The most important point of this recipe is understanding the microwave cooking method.
Since all ingredients are cooked at once, it's crucial to consider their cooking times.
While microwaving for 7 minutes, spread the ingredients evenly over the rice, avoiding clumps, to ensure they cook thoroughly.
Eggplant, in particular, shrinks significantly when cooked, so it's good to add a generous 2 pieces.
Enoki mushrooms, being high in moisture, are very suitable for microwave cooking.
Finally, after cooking, make sure to mix the rice bowl thoroughly so that the sauce is well absorbed, allowing you to enjoy an even more delicious meal.
👨🍳 Directions
Cut the chicken breast sausages into bite-sized pieces and place them in a container.
Add about 0.5 tsp of gochujang (고추장).
Add about 0.5 tsp of soy sauce.
Add a generous 1 tbsp of low-sugar ketchup and mix well.
Close the lid and microwave for 7 minutes.
Place the microwaved brown rice on a plate, then add the cooked sausage mixture next to the rice.
💡 Tips
Too much gochujang (고추장) can ruin the flavor, so add only the appropriate amount.
Any type of soy sauce is fine.
This dish can be easily made with ingredients you already have at home.
📦 Storage & Reuse
This chewy and sweet eggplant rice bowl is best enjoyed immediately after cooking, but if there are leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until the next day.
It's best to consume them as soon as possible.
Freezing is not recommended, as the eggplant's texture can become mushy and vegetables can release a lot of water during thawing, altering the taste.
To reheat, microwave for about 2-3 minutes until warm.
If you have any leftover ingredients, you can use the eggplant in doenjang-jjigae (된장찌개) or make eggplant stir-fry, and use the pork in kimchi-jjigae (김치찌개) or jeyuk-bokkeum (제육볶음).
🥢 Who This Is For
This chewy and sweet eggplant rice bowl is especially recommended for busy office workers, those living alone, and cooking beginners.
The biggest advantage is that you can prepare a satisfying and healthy meal in just 7 minutes.
Pairing it with a refreshing bean sprout soup (kongnamul-guk, 콩나물국) or seaweed soup (miyeok-guk, 미역국) will make for an even more abundant meal.
It also pairs wonderfully with simple side dishes like kimchi (김치) or pickled radish.
It's also perfect as a nutritious snack or a full meal for children, so enjoy it with the whole family.
🔥 Nutrition Info
One serving of this chewy and sweet eggplant rice bowl is estimated to be around 450-550 kcal.
Based on brown rice and minced pork hind leg, you can expect to consume approximately 20-25g of protein, 10-15g of fat, and 60-70g of carbohydrates.
Pork hind leg is rich in high-quality protein and B vitamins, aiding in fatigue recovery.
Eggplant is abundant in potassium, which is good for sodium excretion, and high in dietary fiber, beneficial for gut health.
Various vegetables like Korean zucchini (애호박), carrots, and enoki mushrooms provide vitamins and minerals, helping to balance nutrition.
However, please note that consuming carrots and eggplant together might reduce nutrient absorption.
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