Quick & Savory Stir-Fried Potatoes (Gamja-chae Bokkeum)
Quick & Savory Stir-Fried Potatoes (Gamja-chae Bokkeum)
Stir-Fried Shredded Potatoes
This recipe guides you through making a delightful stir-fried shredded potato dish that is both tender and subtly savory, making it a perfect side for rice. It’s a dish that doesn’t require many additional ingredients beyond potatoes, making preparation easy and the cooking process straightforward. Especially since we’re using thinly sliced potatoes, the cooking time is significantly reduced, making it a quick and satisfying meal.
Main Ingredients- 1 potato (medium-sized)
- 1/2 onion
- 120g Spam (about 1/2 can)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the main ingredient, the potatoes. You can use the potatoes with the skin on if you’ve washed them thoroughly, or peel them if you prefer. Slice the potatoes into julienne strips, about 3-4mm thick – not too thin, not too thick. Thicker cuts offer a chewier texture, while thinner cuts result in a softer bite. Adjust the thickness to your preference.
Step 2
An important step for the shredded potatoes is to soak them in cold water for about 15 minutes. This process removes excess starch, which prevents the potatoes from clumping together when stir-fried, leading to a beautifully separated and delicious dish. After soaking, drain the potatoes thoroughly in a colander.
Step 3
Julienne the onion to a similar length as the potatoes. Adding onions will bring a natural sweetness that enhances the overall flavor of the stir-fried potatoes.
Step 4
Take the Spam out of the can and slice it into strips of similar length and thickness to the potatoes. Slicing the Spam to match the potato strips ensures that the ingredients are evenly distributed and cook uniformly. If you find the Spam too salty, you can lightly blanch it in boiling water before slicing.
Step 5
Now, let’s start stir-frying. Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the shredded potatoes first and stir-fry them. It’s important to stir occasionally to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan. Continue to stir-fry until the potatoes become translucent and start to soften. This stage allows you to control how tender the potatoes become.
Step 6
Once the potatoes are somewhat translucent and tender, add the prepared Spam and onions to the pan. It’s time to season. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper, mixing well to distribute the seasonings evenly. Continue to stir-fry until the onions are softened and translucent, and the Spam and potatoes are well combined. Your delicious stir-fried potato dish is now ready! Serve hot with a side of steamed rice.
