Baek Jong-won Style Spicy Fish Cake Gimbap
Easy and Delicious Baek Jong-won Recipe: Spicy Fish Cake Gimbap
This is Baek Jong-won style gimbap, generously filled with a spicy and sweet stir-fried fish cake mixture. It’s easy to make with simple ingredients and is so addictive that the whole family will love it! Recommended for special occasions or as a party dish!
Spicy Fish Cake Stir-fry Ingredients
- 4 sheets of square fish cakes
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 1/4 cup water (approx. 50ml)
- 4 Cheongyang chili peppers
- 2 Tbsp coarse gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1/2 cup water (approx. 100ml)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Gimbap Ingredients
- 5 sheets of gimbap seaweed
- 5 bowls of freshly cooked rice
- Pickled radish (danmuji), as needed
- Braised burdock root (ureong), as needed
- 5 sheets of gimbap seaweed
- 5 bowls of freshly cooked rice
- Pickled radish (danmuji), as needed
- Braised burdock root (ureong), as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the ingredients for the spicy stir-fried fish cake that will fill the gimbap.
Step 2
Cut the square fish cakes in half, then julienne them into thin strips about 0.5cm wide. Cutting them this thinly allows the seasoning to penetrate well and creates a better texture when eaten.
Step 3
Heat a pan over medium-low heat, add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil, and stir-fry 1 Tbsp of minced garlic until fragrant to create garlic oil. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Once the garlic is fragrant, add the julienned fish cakes and stir-fry them together.
Step 4
When the fish cakes start to look slightly translucent, add 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp fish sauce, and 1/4 cup of water. Stir-fry to let the seasoning soak into the fish cakes. Adding a little water helps prevent the seasoning from burning and ensures the flavor is evenly distributed.
Step 5
Add 4 finely chopped Cheongyang chili peppers for a spicy kick and color. Then, add 2 Tbsp of coarse gochugaru generously. Pour in 1/2 cup of water and let it simmer over medium heat until the liquid reduces and the ingredients meld together. The reduction concentrates the delicious flavor onto the fish cakes.
Step 6
When the fish cake stir-fry is almost done, turn off the heat and stir in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil for a nutty aroma, mixing well to finish.
Step 7
This spicy fish cake stir-fry is also excellent served as a side dish with rice.
Step 8
Your delicious spicy fish cake stir-fry is now complete!
Step 9
Prepare the pickled radish (danmuji) and braised burdock root (ureong) for the gimbap. Using store-bought versions will be convenient.
Step 10
The key to delicious gimbap is seasoning the rice! In 5 bowls of warm, freshly cooked rice, add 1 tsp salt, 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp sesame oil, and a pinch of sesame seeds. Gently mix with a spatula. The sugar not only prevents the rice from clumping and makes it softer, but also adds a subtle sweetness that enhances the overall flavor of the gimbap. This sugar is the ‘cheat code’ for great taste!
Step 11
Place a sheet of gimbap seaweed with the rough side facing up. Spread about 2/3 of the seasoned rice evenly, forming it into a ball about the size of a baseball first. (Once you get the hang of it, judging the amount becomes easier!) At one end of the rice-covered seaweed, lay down strips of pickled radish and burdock root side-by-side. Then, generously place the spicy fish cake stir-fry in the center on top of them.
Step 12
Using a bamboo rolling mat, roll the gimbap tightly. Gently tuck in the end of the seaweed as you roll to prevent it from unraveling.
Step 13
The quality of the seaweed is also important for making delicious gimbap. Using good quality seaweed will greatly improve the flavor.
Step 14
After rolling the gimbap, lightly brush the top surface with sesame oil for a glossy finish and appealing appearance.
Step 15
To slice the gimbap cleanly without it falling apart, lightly moisten your knife with water or cooking oil. Slice to your desired thickness. (The photo shows two rolls sliced together.)
Step 16
Your Baek Jong-won style spicy fish cake gimbap is complete!
Step 17
We made regular gimbap alongside this one. Initially, the family was a bit hesitant about the appearance of the spicy fish cake gimbap, but after tasting it, they exclaimed, ‘This is so delicious!’ Everyone was hooked on the addictive spicy fish cake flavor.
Step 18
A great advantage of this gimbap is that it delivers fantastic flavor without requiring complicated ingredients. If you enjoy spicy food or fish cakes, you should definitely give this recipe a try! It’s perfect for special occasions, as a snack for kids, or even as a simple meal.
