Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Baby Octopus (Nakji Jeotgal) Recipe
Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Baby Octopus (Nakji Jeotgal) Recipe
Expert Chef’s Recipe for Delicious Stir-fried Baby Octopus
Introducing Nakji Jeotgal Muchim, a mouthwatering dish featuring chewy baby octopus marinated in a savory, spicy, and slightly sweet sauce, with the refreshing crunch of vegetables. This dish is the ultimate ‘rice thief’ that will make you want to finish a whole bowl of rice! Even on ordinary days, you can easily make this at home and delight your family’s taste buds!
Baby Octopus Stir-fry- 1 container of salted baby octopus (approx. 200-300g)
- 2 Cheongyang peppers (Korean chili peppers)
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1/4 green onion stalk
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (separate from garlic for seasoning)
Seasoning for Baby Octopus Stir-fry- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds, crushed
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds, crushed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Hello everyone! Today, we’re going to make delicious stir-fried baby octopus, following an expert chef’s authentic recipe. This recipe is designed to highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients while being easy for anyone to follow. First, we’ll prepare the vegetables that will add flavor to our salted baby octopus. We’ll finely mince them all to enhance the texture.
Step 2
Place the entire container of salted baby octopus into a mixing bowl. Adjust the bowl size according to the amount of octopus you are using.
Step 3
Add the finely chopped Cheongyang peppers, red chili pepper, and green onion to the bowl with the baby octopus. While we will add more minced garlic for the seasoning, mincing some to add here allows the pungent garlic flavor to permeate the octopus with every bite, making it even more delicious. Finely chopping the vegetables ensures they blend harmoniously with the octopus, rather than standing out separately, and enhances the overall texture.
Step 4
Salted baby octopus is enjoyable for its salty flavor, but if it feels too salty, adding a little sugar to balance the saltiness is recommended. Adding a touch of sugar will also amplify the umami of the octopus, resulting in a richer flavor profile.
Step 5
Add half a tablespoon of sesame oil for a nutty aroma. Now all the ingredients are ready. Using a spoon or ladle, gently mix everything together, ensuring it doesn’t clump. Be careful not to mix too vigorously, as this can break down the baby octopus.
Step 6
Alright, it’s time to add the main seasoning! To the bowl, add 1 tablespoon of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil, and 1/2 tablespoon of crushed sesame seeds. These seasonings will enrich the flavors of the baby octopus and vegetables.
Step 7
Gently mix again after adding all the seasonings. Once the seasoning is evenly distributed, your moist and appetizing stir-fried baby octopus will be ready. Just looking at it will make your mouth water and your stomach rumble for rice!
Step 8
This is already a fantastic side dish for rice, but if you want to enjoy it in a special way, try placing warm rice on a piece of seasoned seaweed (gim), and generously top it with the stir-fried baby octopus. Adding a few slices of spicy chili pepper along with it creates a truly sensational flavor – so good, you might forget yourself!
