Crisp and Delicious Ham, Potato, and Onion Stir-Fry Recipe
Crisp and Delicious Ham, Potato, and Onion Stir-Fry Recipe
Kid-Approved Savory-Sweet Stir-Fry with Ham, Potatoes, and Onions! Tips for Keeping Sliced Ingredients from Breaking Apart
Our kids’ summer break is still going strong! With just a few weeks left, let’s power through and make some delicious side dishes. Today, we’re aiming to capture those picky ‘elementary school’ taste buds with a stir-fry of ham, potatoes, and onions that stays perfectly intact! ^^
Main Ingredients- 1 can Spam (approx. 200g)
- 4 medium potatoes
- 1/2 medium onion
Seasoning Ingredients- Pinch of salt (for curing potatoes)
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Pinch of black pepper
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (Korean sesame oil)
- 1-2 Tbsp water (if needed)
- Pinch of salt (for curing potatoes)
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Pinch of black pepper
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (Korean sesame oil)
- 1-2 Tbsp water (if needed)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, you can use Spam or any other brand of ham you have in your refrigerator. If you don’t have ham, it’s okay to omit it. Prepare the 4 potatoes by peeling and washing them thoroughly. Also, prepare half an onion.
Step 2
Thinly slice the prepared onion into strips about 0.5 cm thick. Slicing them this way will result in a better texture when stir-fried.
Step 3
Slice the potatoes into strips about 0.5 cm thick, similar to the onion. If they are too thin, they might break apart during cooking, so it’s important to slice them to a moderate thickness.
Step 4
Slice the ham into strips about 0.5 cm thick, matching the size of the potatoes and onions. Slicing the ham ensures that all ingredients cook evenly and makes the dish look more appealing when stir-fried.
Step 5
Place the julienned potatoes in a bowl. Potatoes have a lot of starch, which can cause them to break apart or stick to the pan during stir-frying. To prevent this, there are ways to remove the starch. You can rinse the starch off by briefly soaking the potatoes in water, or as we’ll do today, add a pinch of salt (about 1/2 teaspoon) and let them sit for just 1-2 minutes. This process draws out some moisture from the potatoes, preventing them from sticking together and breaking apart when cooked. This is a great tip for achieving a neat stir-fry!
Step 6
After lightly curing the potatoes with salt for 1-2 minutes, do not rinse them with water. Proceed to stir-fry the potatoes directly in the pan. This step seasons the potatoes subtly, so you might not need to add extra salt later, and it conveniently prevents the ingredients from clumping together.
Step 7
Heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and stir-fry until they become translucent and fragrant. Then, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and stir-fry together until the garlic is fragrant. If you’re worried about the potatoes not being fully cooked at this point, adding 1-2 tablespoons of water and covering the pan briefly to steam them will help them cook through more gently.
Step 8
Now, add the sliced ham and stir-fry everything together. As the ham cooks, it will add a savory flavor. Finally, sprinkle with a pinch of black pepper to enhance the aroma.
Step 9
Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of perilla oil to bring out its nutty fragrance. Adding perilla oil at the end ensures its flavor doesn’t evaporate and you can fully enjoy its rich taste.
Step 10
Finally, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a beautiful finish. Your delicious Ham, Potato, and Onion Stir-Fry is ready! This dish is perfect as a side for warm rice or as a lunchbox treat.
