GINGER LIME PORK WITH COCONUT RICE

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 This Ginger Lime Pork with Coconut Rice recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and is bursting with sweet and savory flavors.

This is definitely one of those recipes that cooks up to be so much more than the sum of its parts, thanks to a few extra minutes in the skillet that magically help to caramelize the ginger-lime sauce with the pork. It’s a simple trick that yields the most irresistible sticky texture and flavor. And I’m certain you are going to love it!

All you need is a pound of ground pork (or ground chicken, beef, turkey, seitan — you choose!), which will then be sautéed until caramelized with a simple mix of scallions, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, lime juice and sriracha. Then sprinkle on your choice of toppings, such crushed peanuts, scallions, and/or fresh herbs (mint, cilantro or Thai basil are all great options). Serve over my favorite coconut rice, which pairs perfectly with all of that ginger and lime. And enjoy, enjoy.

I’ve been making this dish on repeat these past few months whenever I’m craving a quick hit of protein for dinner, usually with a side of veggies or a simple green salad, and it always hits the spot. So if you’re looking for a simple new recipe to add to your rotation, I hope you’ll give it a try soon!

GINGER LIME PORK INGREDIENTS

Here are a few quick notes about the ginger lime pork ingredients that you will need to make this recipe:
  • Coconut rice: Made easily with jasmine rice (or another long-grain white rice), coconut milk, fine sea salt and a hint of sugar.
  • Ground pork: I typically use ground pork as the base for this recipe, but you can also sub in ground chicken, turkey or beef if you prefer.
  • Scallions: We will thinly slice the scallions, then sauté the white parts with the pork and use the green parts as a garnish.
  • Ginger: It’s best to use fresh ginger in this recipe, which you can either grate or finely mince.
  • Lime juice: We will add some lime juice to the sauté itself, but then I highly recommend serving this dish with a few lime wedges on the side too.
  • Garlic: I love adding lots of fresh garlic to this dish, which you can either press or mince.
  • Light brown sugar: We will add in some light brown sugar to help the pork become perfectly caramelized and sticky.
  • Hot sauce: I like adding in some Sriracha to give this dish a bit of heat, but you could also add some diced fresh chiles (such as jalapeño peppers or Thai bird chiles) or crushed red pepper flakes to the sauté. Or you could omit the extra heat entirely.
  • Salt and pepper: Fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper as always, for seasoning.
  • Toppings: The more, the merrier! I highly recommend chopped peanuts, extra lime wedges, and chopped fresh herbs (cilantro, mint, and/or Thai basil).

RECIPE TIPS

Full instructions are included in the recipe box below, but here are a few more helpful tips to consider when making this dish:

  • Begin with the coconut rice. Believe it or not, the rice is actually the most time-intensive part of this recipe. So get it started first, and then begin preparing the pork.
  • Prep your ingredients before you begin cooking. Once you heat up the oil, cooking the pork actually goes quite fast. So it’s helpful to have the scallions, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, lime juice and sriracha prepped and measured out in advance.
  • Give the pork time to properly caramelize. In order for the pork to properly caramelize and achieve that sticky, golden, irresistible texture, it needs to have time to sit in the hot sauté pan without being stirred. So let it rest for a minute or two, then give it a quite stir once you notice it has caramelized on the bottom, and repeat as needed.
  • Season to taste. Want more heat? Amp up the sriracha. Need more of a zing? Add another squeeze of lime juice. And of course, don’t forget the salt and pepper.
  • The more toppings, the merrier! I highly recommend a generous sprinkling of chopped peanuts as a garnish, along with the scallions. But if you happen to have some fresh herbs on hand (mint, cilantro, and/or Thai basil), definitely add them too!

RECIPE VARIATIONS

Here are a few more variations that you’re welcome to try with this ginger lime pork recipe:
  • Use a different protein: Ground chicken, beef, turkey or even seitan can work well in this recipe if you prefer not to use pork.
  • Use plain rice or rice noodles: If coconut rice isn’t your thing, this dish will still be delicious served over plain white or brown rice or rice noodles.
  • Add fish sauce: Add a tablespoon of fish sauce in Step 3 (with the brown sugar) for an extra level of flavor.
  • Add lemongrass: Add a tablespoon of lemongrass paste or finely minced fresh lemongrass in Step 1 (with the scallions).

WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS RECIPE

I love serving this ginger lime pork recipe with either:
  • Fresh veggies: Sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, fresh bean sprouts, sliced bell peppers, or sliced tomatoes would all be delicious no-cook options to serve alongside this dish.
  • Cooked veggies: Roast some broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or any other veggies that sound good to serve as a side.
  • Salad: Toss some greens and fresh veggies with nước chấm for a quick and simple side salad.
  • Lettuce cups: For a fun twist, scoop this dish into lettuce slices to serve as lettuce cups!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 batch coconut rice*
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts separated)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced or grated fresh ginger
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground pork
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha, or more/less to taste
  • fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper
  • toppings: chopped peanuts, extra lime wedges, chopped fresh herbs (cilantro, mint, and/or Thai basil)

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