Stir-Fried Fern – A Delicious and Tender Recipe
Stir-Fried Fern – A Delicious and Tender Recipe
Making Delicious Traditional Korean Holiday Food: Stir-Fried Fern
As the holidays approach, many housewives sigh with worry about what to cook and when to shop. We hope this festive season brings joy, not stress. Many wonder how to make cooking easier. Among the essential dishes, stir-fried fern (gosari bokkeum) is often considered challenging. But it’s not! Let’s make tender, flavorful stir-fried fern. This dish is not only delicious but also packed with dietary fiber, making it great for weight management and relieving constipation. We’ll share all the tips for a perfect gosari bokkeum!
Ingredients- 150g dried bracken (gosari)
- 2-3 pieces dried kelp (dashima)
- 1+1/2 cups water (approx. 300ml)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce (soup or regular)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp chopped scallion
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rehydrate the dried bracken thoroughly. Soaking it overnight before cooking the next morning saves time. Sometimes, dried bracken can be tough and chewy. Good quality dried bracken will become tender just by soaking, but if yours is particularly tough, try boiling it for a short while after soaking to ensure a tender result. Garlic and scallions are considered excellent pairings with bracken. The allicin in garlic and scallions complements the nutrients in bracken and helps to neutralize any slightly gamey odor. Bracken is also rich in dietary fiber, making it beneficial for weight loss and constipation.
Step 2
In about 1 and 1/2 cups of water (approx. 300ml), add 2-3 pieces of dried kelp and let it steep for about 10 minutes to create a flavorful kelp broth. Using this broth will add a deep umami flavor to your stir-fried fern.
Step 3
Rinse the rehydrated bracken several times under running water to remove any dirt or debris. Then, drain it well in a colander, ensuring excess water is removed. This prevents the bracken from clumping together when stir-fried.
Step 4
Cut the drained bracken into bite-sized pieces, about 5cm (2 inches) long. Avoid cutting them too small, as they might break apart during cooking.
Step 5
In a bowl, combine the cut bracken with 5 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Gently mix with your hands, massaging the seasoning into the bracken. Let it marinate for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate.
Step 6
Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add the marinated bracken and 2 tablespoons of sesame oil. Stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes, allowing the bracken to soften. Be careful not to burn it.
Step 7
Pour in the prepared kelp broth (1 and 1/2 cups). Continue to stir-fry over medium heat until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the sauce has thickened, coating the bracken. This usually takes about 15 minutes. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the amount of bracken and the heat level.
Step 8
Finally, stir in the chopped scallion (1 tablespoon) and a pinch of toasted sesame seeds. Mix well to combine. Adding scallions and sesame seeds at the end enhances the aroma and flavor of the dish.
