Spicy and Chewy Fish Cake Stir-Fry (Eomuk Bokkeum)
Spicy, Chewy, and Utterly Delicious Fish Cake Stir-Fry!
Fish cakes are such a versatile and tasty ingredient, we make them often! This stir-fry is a delightful combination of chewy texture and a sweet and spicy sauce, making it a perfect side dish for any meal or even a snack. Enjoy a delicious meal with this simple yet flavorful recipe.
Main Ingredients
- 6 sheets of square fish cakes (approx. 300g)
- 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 stalk of green onion, diagonally sliced
- 2 Korean green chili peppers, diagonally sliced (add more if you like it spicier)
- 1 red chili pepper, diagonally sliced (for color)
Sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (or seasoned soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce (for umami!)
- 1 Tbsp oligosaccharide (for gloss and sweetness adjustment)
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin) (removes gamey smell and tenderizes)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 2 Tbsp chili oil (for spiciness and flavor)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil (for nuttiness)
- A little sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (or seasoned soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce (for umami!)
- 1 Tbsp oligosaccharide (for gloss and sweetness adjustment)
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin) (removes gamey smell and tenderizes)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 2 Tbsp chili oil (for spiciness and flavor)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil (for nuttiness)
- A little sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the fish cakes. Cut the square fish cakes into bite-sized pieces (about 5cm x 5cm). This size helps them absorb the sauce well and makes them easy to eat.
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables. Thinly slice the onion, and diagonally slice the green onion and chili peppers. For the chili peppers, it’s a good idea to remove the seeds before slicing diagonally for a nicer appearance and balanced flavor.
Step 3
The secret to delicious fish cake stir-fry lies in the sauce! In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp oyster sauce, 1 Tbsp oligosaccharide, 2 Tbsp cooking wine, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix well to create the sauce. Adding oyster sauce significantly enhances the savory flavor.
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium-low heat and add 2 Tbsp of chili oil. Stir-fry the sliced onions until they become translucent. Once the onions are slightly cooked, add the prepared fish cakes and stir-fry together for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to coat them evenly. Continue stir-frying until the fish cakes soften.
Step 5
Now, add the diagonally sliced green onions, green chilies, and red chilies to the pan. Stir-fry quickly. As the vegetables begin to wilt, increase the heat slightly and cook for another minute. This will help retain a pleasant crispness in the vegetables.
Step 6
Finally, turn off the heat. Drizzle in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. It’s best to add sesame oil after turning off the heat, as high heat can diminish its aroma if cooked for too long.
Step 7
Transfer the well-stir-fried fish cakes to a serving dish. It’s ready! The combination of spicy and sweet flavors with the chewy fish cakes is so satisfying that you’ll likely finish a bowl of rice in no time. It’s also absolutely delicious served on top of hot rice.
