Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Fish Cakes (Eomuk Bokkeum)
The quintessential Korean side dish: Delicious Stir-Fried Fish Cakes
A pantry staple that’s perfect with rice! This simple yet satisfying stir-fried fish cake recipe is a hit with everyone, young and old. The chewy fish cakes combined with crisp vegetables make for a delightful side dish.
Main Ingredients
- 6 sheets of flat fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1 small onion
- 1 small green onion (scallion)
Seasoning Ingredients
- 3.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (oligosaccharide)
- Vegetable oil for stir-frying
- 3.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (oligosaccharide)
- Vegetable oil for stir-frying
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the fish cakes. Cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm wide. For a chewier texture and to remove excess oil, you can briefly blanch them in boiling water and then rinse with cold water. Place the prepared fish cakes in a frying pan.
Step 2
Slice the onion into pieces similar in size to the fish cakes. Add the onion to the pan along with 3.5 Tbsp of soy sauce and a drizzle of vegetable oil. It’s best to adjust the soy sauce amount to your personal taste while stir-frying. Stir everything together until well combined.
Step 3
Once the fish cakes and onions are partially stir-fried, add half a cup of water. Stir-frying with a little water ensures the fish cakes remain moist and absorb the sauce beautifully, making them even more delicious. Simmer over medium-low heat.
Step 4
Finely chop the green onion. Add 0.5 Tbsp of minced garlic, 0.5 Tbsp of red pepper flakes, and 1 Tbsp of corn syrup. The pungent garlic, spicy pepper flakes, and sweet corn syrup will add wonderful depth of flavor. Continue to stir-fry briefly until all seasonings are well incorporated.
Step 5
Finally, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Sesame seeds add a nutty aroma and make the dish visually appealing.
Step 6
Once all the ingredients are well combined and the sauce has slightly reduced, turn off the heat. Your delicious stir-fried fish cakes, a perfect accompaniment to any meal, are now ready to be enjoyed!
