Aaron and Claire Show Us an Amazing Shogayaki Recipe!

Aaron and Claire are back with another quick and flavorful Japanese recipe: shogayaki, or Japanese ginger pork. If you like simple, affordable dishes that taste like they came straight from a cozy Japanese diner, you’ll want to try this.

🍜 What is shogayaki?

Shogayaki (生姜焼き) is a classic Japanese home-cooked dish made by pan-frying thin slices of pork in a savory soy-based sauce with plenty of fresh ginger. In Japanese, shoga means ginger, and yaki means grill or fry. It’s a typical lunch set in Japan, usually served with rice and shredded cabbage. The combination is salty, slightly sweet, and packed with umami, making it the perfect everyday meal.

It’s also one of those dishes that works for almost any occasion, whether it’s a weeknight dinner, a lunch prep for the next day, or part of a bigger Japanese-style meal. Aaron calls it “simple, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor.” After watching them make it, it’s easy to see why.

Image via Aaron and Claire

🛍 Ingredients You’ll Need

The core ingredients are straightforward: pork, ginger, onion, and cabbage. Optional extras like shishito peppers or cherry tomatoes make it look colorful and more like something you’d get at a restaurant, but you can skip them.

The sauce is made with grated ginger, soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, and a splash of water. If you want to boost the flavor, add some grated onion or garlic, but Aaron keeps it simple in this recipe.

Aaron uses thinly sliced pork loin for the pork, but pork shoulder, belly, or pork at home will work. Ask your butcher or slice it yourself if you can’t get it pre-sliced. He also recommends making minor cuts along the edges of the pork slices so they don’t curl up when cooking. A light coat of potato starch helps lock in the juices and makes the sauce stick better, but cornstarch or all-purpose flour can work too.

Image via Aaron and Claire

🥢 Quick Prep Steps

Aaron starts by prepping the ginger. Peel it with a spoon, then grate it directly into a bowl so he keeps all the flavorful juice. Combine it with soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, and water to make your sauce.

Next, slice the onion thinly but not too thickly, and shred the cabbage into fine strips. Soak the cabbage in cold water for a minute or two to remove bitterness and make it extra crisp, then drain well.

Season the pork lightly with pepper, make small cuts along the edges, and coat with potato starch. Aaron warns not to add salt unless your pork slices are thick, as the sauce already has plenty of seasoning.

Image via Aaron and Claire

🔥 Cooking the Shogayaki

Heat a bit of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Aaron starts with the onions: sauté them with a pinch of salt for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and lightly browned, then set them aside.

In the same pan, he adds more oil and cooks the pork in two batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Crowding the pork will steam instead of sear, and you won’t get that nice browned surface. Cook each side for a couple of minutes until no longer pink.

Once both batches are done, return the pork and onions to the pan. Give the sauce a quick stir and pour it in. Let it bubble and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, flipping the pork pieces so they soak up the sauce evenly. When the sauce thickens and the pork is coated, it’s done.

Image via Aaron and Claire

🍽 Serving Tips

Plate it with a generous portion of shredded cabbage on the side. Arrange the pork slices neatly, and, Aaron said, if you want to make it Instagram-worthy, add grilled shishito peppers and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle extra sauce from the pan over the cabbage for flavor. Aaron and Claire say you don’t need any separate dressing because the sauce works perfectly.

You can also serve it as a rice bowl. Just pile some rice in a bowl, layer on the pork, onions, and cabbage, and spoon over extra sauce.

Image via Aaron and Claire

🥰 Claire’s Taste Test

This was Claire’s first time trying shogayaki, and she loved it. She said the pork was tender, the sauce was full of umami, and the ginger gave it a fresh, fragrant kick. Her number one tip? Eat it with rice. The sauce blends into the rice, making every bite extra satisfying.

She also noted that the cabbage, even without dressing, pairs perfectly with the pork and onions, adding a crunchy contrast to the tender meat. If you’re a fan of teriyaki chicken and love ginger, she says this is “just for you.”

Image via Aaron and Claire

🎁 Make It a Japanese Night with TokyoTreat

If shogayaki makes you crave more Japanese flavors, TokyoTreat can take your night to the next level. TokyoTreat delivers a monthly box of limited-edition Japanese snacks straight from Japan, from exclusive KitKat flavors to savory chips and seasonal sweets you won’t find in stores.

It’s a fun way to explore Japanese flavors at home. Make your shogayaki, open your snack box, and you’ll have a full Japanese-inspired evening without leaving the house.

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🏡 Make It Tonight!

If you’re unsure what to cook for dinner, remember this shogayaki recipe. It’s quick, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights, relaxed weekends, or even meal prep. Once you try it, there’s a good chance it’ll become a regular in your kitchen.

👉 Watch “This 15 Minute Japanese Ginger Pork Will Be Your New Favorite Weeknight Dinner l Shogayaki” on Aaron & Claire’s YouTube Channel here.