Spicy Braised Croaker with Plenty of Potatoes
Spicy Braised Croaker with Plenty of Potatoes
Spicy Braised Croaker with Plenty of Potatoes
This recipe features plump, seasonal croaker fish and hearty chunks of potato, braised together in a flavorful, spicy sauce. It’s a perfect rice accompaniment!
Main Ingredients- 2 medium-sized fresh croaker fish
- 10 medium-sized potatoes (new potatoes preferred)
- 1 large onion
- 3 Korean green chili peppers (cheongyang peppers)
- 1 stalk of green onion
- 2 cups (approx. 400ml) of anchovy or kelp broth
Braising Sauce- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce or fish sauce (for umami)
- 1 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp plum syrup
- 1 Tbsp ginger wine (or a pinch of minced ginger)
- 3 Tbsp red pepper flakes (adjust to your spice preference)
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (for shine and sweetness)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce or fish sauce (for umami)
- 1 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp plum syrup
- 1 Tbsp ginger wine (or a pinch of minced ginger)
- 3 Tbsp red pepper flakes (adjust to your spice preference)
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (for shine and sweetness)
- Pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the broth that forms the base of this delicious braised croaker. Simmer anchovies and kelp to create a rich broth. (You can skip this step if using store-bought broth.)
Step 2
Peel and thoroughly wash the potatoes. Cut them into thick, 2-3cm chunks. Soaking them in cold water helps remove excess starch and prevents browning. Clean the croaker fish by removing scales and guts, and trim the fins.
Step 3
Cut the cleaned croaker into 2-3 large pieces. Since croaker is delicate and can break easily, you can also choose to leave the fish whole and make deep slashes on both sides instead of cutting it into pieces. This also allows the sauce to penetrate better, making it more flavorful.
Step 4
Cut the prepared potatoes into thick, 2-3cm pieces, suitable for eating. It’s important to cut them thick enough so they don’t fall apart during cooking.
Step 5
Prepare the vegetables: peel and thickly slice the onion. Remove the stems from the Korean green chili peppers and slice them diagonally to add spiciness. Slice the green onion diagonally for a fragrant finish. (You can omit the green onion if unavailable.)
Step 6
Thickly slice the onion. Remove the stems from the Korean green chili peppers and slice them diagonally. Slice the green onion diagonally.
Step 7
Now, let’s make the braising sauce that will give the dish its delicious flavor. In a large bowl, combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce or fish sauce, 1 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp plum syrup, 1 Tbsp ginger wine, 3 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 0.5 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp corn syrup, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix well. You can adjust the amount of sugar to your liking.
Step 8
Get a wide, deep pan and arrange the cut potatoes evenly at the bottom.
Step 9
Pour about 1/3 of the prepared sauce over the potatoes and gently mix to coat them evenly, allowing the flavors to meld.
Step 10
Now, carefully arrange the prepared croaker fish pieces on top of the potatoes.
Step 11
Pour the remaining 2/3 of the braising sauce evenly over the fish and potatoes. Using a generous amount of sauce ensures the dish isn’t too dry after braising.
Step 12
Pour the 2 cups of prepared broth into the bowl that contained the sauce, rinsing out any remaining sauce from the bowl.
Step 13
Carefully pour this broth mixture around the edges of the pan. The liquid should come about halfway up the ingredients.
Step 14
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Let it bubble vigorously for about 5 minutes to start cooking the ingredients.
Step 15
Reduce the heat to medium and continue to braise for about 10 minutes, spooning the sauce over the fish and potatoes occasionally. Basting helps the flavors penetrate better.
Step 16
After about 10 minutes of braising, check if the ingredients are tender and the sauce has reduced to a nice consistency.
Step 17
Now, add the sliced onion, diagonally sliced green chili peppers, and green onion on top. These fresh vegetables will add aroma and depth to the dish.
Step 18
Lower the heat to low and let it simmer for another 5 minutes, either covered or uncovered. This allows the vegetables to soften and the flavors to fully meld into the fish and potatoes.
Step 19
Transfer the beautifully braised croaker to a serving dish. The tender fish and soft potatoes create a delightful dish that will have you reaching for more rice!
Step 20
Serve the finished braised croaker attractively in a bowl. Enjoy it with warm rice for a satisfying meal.
