Spicy and Sweet Grilled Octopus Skewers (Nakji Horonggui) Made Easy with an Air Fryer
Spicy and Sweet Grilled Octopus Skewers (Nakji Horonggui) Made Easy with an Air Fryer
Revealing the Secret to Effortlessly Making Delicious Grilled Octopus Skewers in Your Air Fryer!
Skewers are best with a gochujang glaze! Experience the irresistible spicy and sweet flavor of Nakji Horonggui. We’ll grill the octopus in the air fryer, brush it with a savory gochujang sauce, and grill it again for an extra burst of flavor! It’s incredibly tender and utterly delicious~! A recipe from “All Recipes of the World” by Man-Gae Recipe.
Main Ingredients- 4 octopus (choose fresh ones)
- Salt (for cleaning the octopus)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil (for marinating)
- 2 stalks green onions (for garnish)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (for garnish)
Spicy & Sweet Sauce Ingredients- 4 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp rice wine (or cooking wine)
- A little sesame oil (for enhanced flavor)
- 4 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp rice wine (or cooking wine)
- A little sesame oil (for enhanced flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, finely chop the green onions that will be used for garnish. Preparing your vegetables in advance like this will make the cooking process much smoother and less stressful.
Step 2
Rinse the fresh octopus thoroughly under running water. Then, carefully remove the internal organs from the head, as well as the eyes and beak (teeth). Cleaning the octopus well ensures a cleaner taste.
Step 3
Add an appropriate amount of salt to the cleaned octopus and gently knead it. Be careful not to damage the octopus, but ensure it’s thoroughly massaged. This process helps remove any remaining impurities and enhances the chewy texture.
Step 4
Add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil to the kneaded octopus and gently mix to marinate. The sesame oil will be absorbed, making the octopus more tender and adding a delightful nutty aroma.
Step 5
Insert a wooden skewer firmly into the octopus, starting from the head. Then, carefully wrap the body and tentacles around the skewer, coiling them neatly to form the characteristic ‘horong’ shape. Shaping them like this makes them look more appealing when grilled.
Step 6
Place the shaped octopus skewers into the air fryer basket. Air fry at 180°C (356°F) for about 10 minutes. This initial grilling helps to lock in the octopus’s juices, ensuring a moist result.
Step 7
In a bowl, combine the gochujang, gochugaru, minced garlic, oligosaccharide, rice wine, and a little sesame oil. Stir everything together until you have a smooth, delicious sauce. Feel free to adjust the sweetness and spiciness to your personal preference.
Step 8
Brush the sauce evenly over the octopus skewers that have been partially grilled. Return the sauced skewers to the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes at 180°C (356°F). This final step allows the sauce to caramelize and the flavors to meld beautifully. Keep an eye on them to prevent the sauce from burning.
