Before You Start…Please note that this recipe requires 1 hour of marinating time.
To Prepare the Pork Chops
Prick 4 boneless pork loin chops (½-inch thick) with a fork so the meat will absorb the marinade. In a resealable plastic bag, add the pork chops and all the ingredients for the marinade: 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp sake, 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, ½–1 Tbsp sugar, 1 clove garlic (minced), 1 tsp ginger (julienned), ½ tsp potato starch or cornstarch, and 1 shallot (minced). Squeeze out the air before sealing the bag. Keep in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour; I don‘t recommend longer than that, as it gets too salty.
To Cook
You can grill the pork chops on the BBQ or pan-fry them. For pan-frying, heat 1 Tbsp neutral oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the pork chops to the pan, removing the marinade from the pork chop as much as possible because it will end up “steaming“ the meat. Reserve the marinade in the plastic bag to make the sauce later. Do not touch the pork chops and give them a nice sear.
Then, flip them and reduce the heat to medium low. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 3 minutes. You want to make sure the pork is cooked through, but do not overcook it as it will get very tough.
Add the marinade into the pan and increase the heat to medium. Bring it to simmer and scoop the sauce with a spoon over the meat. Transfer the meat to serving plates. Continue to reduce the sauce until thickened.
To Serve
Serve the pork chop with steamed rice and sautéed vegetables (I sautéed spinach with butter and seasoned with salt and pepper). Enjoy!
To Store
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.