On days when you have no appetite and feel lazy about cooking, a bowl of warm bean sprout rice makes you forget about ten side dishes.

With crunchy bean sprouts, savory pork, and a sauce full of green onion flavor, dinner is already a success.

Here's a foolproof recipe for bean sprout rice that's perfect for gathering the family around the table for a hearty meal. I will share both the electric rice cooker method and the pot method.

First, prepare the ingredients. For 2-3 servings, you need 2 cups of rice, about 300g of bean sprouts, and 150g of ground pork. For seasoning the meat, use 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, half a tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, and a pinch of pepper. For the seasoning sauce, you need one green onion or a handful of chives, 5 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of red pepper powder, half a tablespoon of sugar, half a tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and plenty of sesame seeds.

Half of the flavor of bean sprout rice comes from the meat. Lightly pat the ground pork with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, then mix it with the seasoning and let it marinate for about 10 minutes. You can place this meat directly on top of the rice, but briefly stir-frying it in a pan first prevents clumping and improves the texture significantly. This step greatly enhances the overall quality.

The electric rice cooker method is the easiest. Rinse the rice and place it in the rice cooker, using about 10 to 20 percent less water than usual. This is because the bean sprouts release a lot of moisture. Spread the stir-fried pork evenly on top, and finally, pile the thoroughly washed bean sprouts on top. Press the white rice cooking button, and you're done. If possible, using the quick cooking option will help maintain the crunchiness of the bean sprouts.

Using a pot will bring out the texture of the bean sprouts even more. Add rice and water in a 1:1 ratio to the pot and cook as usual. When the rice is almost done, about 5 minutes before it's finished steaming, place the bean sprouts and stir-fried pork on top. Cover with a lid and keep on low heat to ensure the bean sprouts cook through without wilting. This method is especially good for those who prioritize texture.

While the rice is cooking, prepare the green onion seasoning sauce. Finely chop the green onion, then mix the soy sauce, red pepper powder, sugar, and garlic first, adding plenty of sesame oil and sesame seeds at the end. The more green onions you use, the better the flavor. In spring, you can substitute wild chives for a delightful aroma.

Once cooking is complete, gently mix the bean sprouts, meat, and rice with a rice paddle. The savory aroma that wafts up is already setting the table. Serve in a large bowl, add a spoonful or two of the seasoning sauce, and mix it all together; the crunchy bean sprouts, meat, and fragrant sauce come together perfectly, making any additional side dishes unnecessary. Wrapping it in a sheet of seaweed is truly the finishing touch.

This dish is uncomplicated yet full of care. If you're pondering what to make for dinner tonight, give bean sprout rice a try.

Making it generously and enjoying it with delicious kimchi and bean sprout rice with family is a joy that few home-cooked meals can match.