Best 5 Butanokakuni Japanese Leek Substitutes: Which One is the Best for You?

Pork cubes melt in your mouth.

When you try to make pork kakuni, you will be in trouble if you don’t have green onions.

Oh no! I don’t have any leeks to put in the pork cubes. What should I do?

But it can be a hassle to go out and buy just the green onions when you already have the main pork and other ingredients.

In such a case, it would be very helpful to know what you can use as a substitute for the green onions in pork cubes.

In this article, we will introduce you to “substitutes for green onions in pork cubes”, so please refer to them if you have any problems.

What is the role of spring onions in pork cubes?

Neganegi, which is added when making pork cubes, has the role of “removing the smell of pork.

The green part at the end of the leek is rich in “allyl sulfide,” which is an aromatic ingredient unique to leeks, and it works to remove the smell of the food.

When heated rapidly, allyl sulfide turns into a sweet ingredient, so its role as an odor eliminator is half-hearted, but if it is heated slowly, it will firmly eliminate the odor of meat.

Long green onions are the perfect odor eliminator for pork cubes that take a long time to cook.

Allyl sulfide also makes the meat tougher and helps to make the Kakuni more tender.

Allicin, a component of allyl sulfide, is also useful for health, easing the symptoms of colds and improving the function of the stomach and intestines.

Here’s what to look for in a leek substitute!

As a substitute for leeks in pork cubes, it is recommended to choose an ingredient that can eliminate the smell of the meat.

Allyl sulfide, which is found in long green onions, is abundant in green onions, so you may want to check if you have green onions in stock first.

Even if you don’t have leeks, there are other ingredients that can be used to eliminate the smell, so make good use of them to eliminate the smell of the meat and make delicious pork cubes.

Some recommended substitutes

These are the six recommended substitutes for green onions in pork cubes!

Substitute for green onions in stewed pork cubes 1:  Onions

Onions_2

Onions, which are versatile in stir-fries, stews, and salads, are a good substitute for long onions in pork cubes.

Since they are leeks, like green onions, they are rich in allyl sulfide, which removes the smell of meat.

It is a vegetable that every home has on hand, so it is an easy substitute.

When substituting onions, it is best to use about 2 onions per 500g of pork.

Some people may wonder, “What if the flavor changes? However, since pork cubes are well-seasoned by nature, the flavor will not be greatly affected!

Substitute for green onions in pork cubes 2: Ginger

Ginger

Ginger, which is used as a condiment or as an accent in cooking, can also be used in place of green onions in stewed pork cubes.

Ginger has a pungent ingredient unique to ginger called “gingerol”, which helps to remove the odor of the food.

When using ginger as a substitute, it is recommended to use about one piece of ginger per 500g of pork.

If you use a tube of ginger, it is recommended to add about 10cm of ginger.

If you use too much ginger, the aroma of ginger will become strong.

Substitute for green onions in pork cubes 3: Celery

Celery

Celery, which is used in salads and soups, can also be used as a substitute for green onions in stewed pork cubes.

Celery contains a unique aromatic ingredient called apiin, which helps to remove the smell of the meat.

When substituting celery, cut the stalk diagonally and stew it with the pork.

The pork is well-seasoned, so the celery’s aroma can be suppressed, even if you don’t like celery.

Substitute for green onions in stewed pork cubes 4: Wakegi

Wakegi

Wakegi, which is often used for tempura and soaked vegetables, is also a good substitute for spring onions in pork cubes.

Wakegi, a hybrid of leeks and onions, also contains allyl sulfide, which helps to remove the smell of meat when cooked together.

When substituting wakegi, use the white part of the root instead of the green part.

The white part is rich in allyl sulfide, so it is the best to use.

Substitute for leeks in stewed pork cubes 5: Shallots

shallots

Shallots, which are a member of the onion family with a swollen root, can also be used in place of green onions for stewed pork cubes.

Like leeks, it is a vegetable that is often used overseas. Since it is a leek, it contains allyl sulfide, which helps to eliminate odors.

When substituting shallots, use the swollen part of the root, not the stem.

Some leeks are not good substitutes for others

So far, I have introduced some substitutes for leeks in pork cubes.

All of them are perfect for eliminating the smell of meat and will help you make delicious pork cubes without any odor.

Also, leeks can be substituted without any discomfort thanks to the allyl sulfide.

However, there are some leeks that are difficult to substitute, and “chives” and “small leeks (all-purpose leeks)” are somewhat unsuitable for stewed pork cubes.

Both contain allyl sulfide, but chives are too fragrant and may change the flavor of the pork cubes.

Also, small green onions are suitable for finishing and condiments, and boiling them to remove the smell is not their forte.

Both of them are difficult to use as a smell remover, but you can sprinkle small green onions on top of kakuni to make it look better, or chives can be useful when you use leftover kakuni to make a new dish.

It would be good to use it as a “little side dish” rather than a smell remover.

Conclusion

  • The role of leeks in stewed pork cubes is to soften and remove the smell of pork.
  • Substitute for leeks in stewed pork cubes should be ingredients that can remove the smell of the meat. Among them, leeks are recommended because they contain allyl sulfide, which helps eliminate odor.
  • We recommend the following six substitutes for green onions in pork cubes.
  • Onions, ginger, celery, scallions, leeks, and shallots.
  • Onions can be substituted because they are rich in allyl sulfide, just like green onions.
  • Onions are a great substitute as they are reasonably priced and many homes have them on hand.
  • Ginger is useful for removing odor due to its gingerol component. However, if you add too much, the aroma of ginger will become too strong, so be careful how much you add.
  • The white part of the root of ginger is rich in allyl sulfide, so use that part to get rid of the smell.
  • Leeks and shallots are leeks and can be used to remove odors. However, they are relatively expensive compared to leeks and onions, so it is better to substitute them when you have no use for them.
  • Among leeks, “chives” and “small leeks (all-purpose leeks)” are difficult to use to remove odor, so it is better to avoid using them in pork cubes.