Soy Sauce Braised Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum): Simple & Delicious Side Dish Recipe
Soy Sauce Braised Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum): Simple & Delicious Side Dish Recipe
Kids’ Snack, Lunchbox Side, Party Food, Baek Jong-won’s Eomuk Bokkeum Secret
As the kids’ winter break begins, I’ve fully embraced the role of ‘constant cook’! As a working mom who feels secure with a well-stocked fridge, I made a few side dishes over the weekend. Today, I’m sharing how to make the classic, simple braised fish cake. I’ve slightly adapted Baek Jong-won’s recipe for this soy sauce-based onion and fish cake stir-fry, which is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser with no dislikes. Whip up this easy yet incredibly tasty side dish that your children will love!
Main Ingredients- 6 sheets of square fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1/2 onion
- 1/3 stalk of green onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the fish cakes. I usually use flat, square fish cakes, and I’ve prepared 6 sheets today. Cut the fish cakes into bite-sized pieces. I like to cut them into long, thin strips. Thinly slice the onion; if it’s a large one, half should be enough. Finely chop the green onion as well (though it wasn’t pictured, it’s an important part!).
Step 2
Heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a frying pan over low heat. Add the chopped green onions and sauté them slowly until fragrant, creating ‘green onion oil’. (Optional: Some people add 1/2 Tbsp of minced garlic here, but I find the green onion aroma sufficient!)
Step 3
Once the green onion oil is fragrant, add the sliced onions and the prepared fish cakes to the pan, and stir-fry them together.
Step 4
Keep the heat on low and stir gently with a spatula to prevent the fish cakes from sticking or burning. Stir-fry until the edges of the fish cakes are lightly golden. This develops a richer flavor.
Step 5
Now, pour in about 50ml of water. Stir-frying while letting the water simmer and reduce will keep the fish cakes moist and allow them to absorb the sauce beautifully, resulting in a much softer texture.
Step 6
When the fish cakes seem to have absorbed some of the water and softened, it’s time to season. Add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce and stir well to ensure the sauce coats the fish cakes evenly. (Optional: If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can add 1 Tbsp of corn syrup/oligosaccharide and 1 Tbsp of sesame oil at this stage for extra gloss and aroma.)
Step 7
Once the sauce has thickened and coated the fish cakes with a nice sheen, turn off the heat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds for the final touch, and your delicious soy sauce braised fish cake is ready! It’s incredibly simple and almost impossible to mess up – a universally loved side dish!
Step 8
This dish is irresistibly addictive with its soft yet savory-sweet flavor, making it a fantastic value side. It’s perfect for lunchboxes and, with its soy sauce base, an ideal dish for children! It’s one of those side dishes that can easily help you finish a whole bowl of rice.
