Soft and Chewy Stir-fried Fish Cakes (Eomuk Bokkeum)
Master the Perfect Stir-fried Fish Cakes: Soft, Chewy, and Flavorful
My husband loves this so much that I make it frequently. It’s a simple yet incredibly delicious side dish that’s perfect with rice.
Main Ingredients
- 5 sheets of fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1/2 onion
- A little bit of bell pepper (any color)
- A little bit of carrot
Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 3 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp tuna extract (or dark soy sauce)
- A pinch of sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 3 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp tuna extract (or dark soy sauce)
- A pinch of sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the fish cakes. You can rinse them briefly under running water to remove excess oil for a cleaner taste. Then, cut them into strips about 1 cm wide. This size is perfect for stir-frying.
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables. Slice the onion into thick julienne strips. Julienne the carrot and bell pepper to a similar thickness. Cutting them this way helps them retain a nice texture when stir-fried.
Step 3
Heat 1-2 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the julienned onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Stir-fry until the vegetables become slightly softened and translucent, but be careful not to overcook them until they lose all their crispness.
Step 4
Once the vegetables are tender, add the prepared fish cakes to the pan. Stir-fry them together with the vegetables, ensuring they don’t stick to the pan. You’ll notice the fish cakes start to become slightly chewy as they cook.
Step 5
When the fish cakes have been stir-fried for a bit and have developed a nice chewiness, add 3 Tbsp of water. Stirring and cooking with the water will prevent the fish cakes from drying out, keeping them moist and tender.
Step 6
Now it’s time to add the seasonings. Combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp cooking wine, and 1 Tbsp tuna extract in the pan. Stir everything well. Using honey instead of sugar provides a deeper, more nuanced sweetness that enhances the overall flavor. Continue to stir-fry over low heat until all the seasonings are evenly coated on the fish cakes and vegetables.
Step 7
Finally, transfer the well-stirred fish cakes to a serving plate. Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds for an extra nutty flavor and a beautiful finish.
Step 8
This delicious stir-fried fish cake is tender yet wonderfully chewy, perfectly seasoned without being too salty, and offers a delightful combination of savory and nutty flavors that everyone will love. It’s especially wonderful served with a bowl of hot rice!
