Spicy and Savory Stir-Fried Fish Cakes
Spicy and Savory Stir-Fried Fish Cakes
Delicious and Spicy Stir-Fried Fish Cakes Recipe
We’ve prepared a spicy and savory version of the beloved Korean side dish, stir-fried fish cakes! This dish is not only simple to make but also incredibly delicious, making it a perfect everyday side dish or a fantastic addition to your bento box. Get ready to find out how to make this magical recipe that will have you finishing a bowl of rice in no time!
Main Ingredients- 300g Fish Cakes (1 package)
- 1/2 Onion
- 2 Cheongyang Peppers (Korean chili peppers)
- 1 Red Chili Pepper
- 5-6 Green Onions (or 1/3 of a large leek, white part)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1/2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Spicy Seasoning Sauce- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesil Cheong)
- 1/2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Pinch Salt
- A dash of Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesil Cheong)
- 1/2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Pinch Salt
- A dash of Black Pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the fish cakes. Boil some water in a pot and blanch the fish cakes for about 1-2 minutes. This helps remove any impurities and ensures a tender texture. After blanching, rinse them under cold water, squeeze out excess moisture, and cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 2cm wide. This preparation allows the fish cakes to absorb the sauce better.
Step 2
Slice the onion relatively thickly, about 0.5cm wide, to maintain a pleasant crunch. If you slice them too thinly, they can become overly soft and mushy when stir-fried.
Step 3
For the chili peppers, remove the stems and slice them lengthwise. Then, carefully scoop out and discard the seeds before thinly julienning them. Removing the seeds ensures a clean spicy flavor. Cutting them too thick can result in an unpleasant biting texture, so aim for thin strips.
Step 4
Wash the green onions and cut them into lengths of about 1-2 cm. If green onions are not available, the white part of a large leek can be a good substitute. Cut the leek similarly to the green onions.
Step 5
All the ingredients for stir-frying, including the vegetables and fish cakes, are now ready. Your preparation for a delicious stir-fried fish cake dish is complete!
Step 6
In a bowl, combine all the seasoning sauce ingredients: gochugaru (2 Tbsp), soy sauce (3 Tbsp), sugar (1 Tbsp), mirin (1 Tbsp), plum extract (1 Tbsp), oyster sauce (1/2 Tbsp), salt (1 pinch), and black pepper (a dash). Whisk them together until the sugar is dissolved. Having the sauce pre-mixed makes the stir-frying process much smoother.
Step 7
Heat a suitable amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Be careful not to overheat the pan, as this can cause the ingredients to burn. Maintain a moderate heat.
Step 8
Add the sliced onions to the pan and stir-fry them over medium-low heat until they become translucent. Sautéing the onions first helps to release their natural sweetness, which enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Step 9
Once the onions start to look slightly transparent and soften, add the prepared fish cakes to the pan and stir-fry them together with the onions.
Step 10
Gently toss the fish cakes and onions with a spatula to combine them well. Stir continuously to prevent the fish cakes from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Step 11
After the onions and fish cakes have been stir-fried for a bit, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until the fragrant aroma of garlic is released. Cooking the garlic along with the other ingredients adds a deeper layer of flavor.
Step 12
Next, add the julienned red and green chili peppers. Stir-fry them with the other ingredients until they are well combined, adding both color and a pleasant spicy kick. The chili peppers not only make the dish visually appealing but also enhance its flavor profile.
Step 13
Once all the ingredients are partially stir-fried, pour the pre-made spicy seasoning sauce evenly over them in the pan.
Step 14
Turn the heat up to high and quickly stir-fry for about 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to coat and penetrate the ingredients. Keep stirring constantly to prevent burning. This high-heat step helps the sauce thicken and creates a glossy finish.
Step 15
Finally, add the chopped green onions and stir them in just enough to combine. Green onions cook very quickly, so avoid overcooking them to maintain their crisp texture.
Step 16
Toss everything together lightly to ensure the ingredients are evenly coated with the sauce. You’ll see the appetizing glossy appearance of the delicious stir-fried fish cakes!
Step 17
Turn off the heat. Add the toasted sesame seeds (1/2 Tbsp) and sesame oil (1/2 Tbsp) to finish the dish, and give it a gentle mix. Adding sesame oil and seeds at the end preserves their fragrant aroma.
Step 18
Voila! Your visually appealing, spicy, and savory stir-fried fish cakes are ready. They are perfect as a side dish for rice or even as a snack!
Step 19
Transfer the finished, delicious stir-fried fish cakes onto a serving plate for an attractive presentation. Enjoy this delightful dish with a bowl of warm rice!
