Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Octopus: A Delicious Recipe
Sharing My Signature Stir-Fried Octopus Recipe
I’m sharing my recipe for a flavorful stir-fried octopus made with convenient frozen octopus. I’ve made stir-fries with squid and small octopus before, but this was my first time with a larger octopus, and it turned out perfectly to my taste! For my child who came home late, I finely chopped the octopus and stir-fried it with rice and the sauce, which they absolutely loved. ^^
Main Ingredients
- Frozen octopus 563g
- 1/2 onion
- 1 stalk green onion
- 2 Cheongyang chili peppers (spicy Korean peppers)
- 1 red chili pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thaw the frozen octopus in the refrigerator. It’s best to do this overnight to ensure it thaws evenly and retains its texture.
Step 2
Once thawed, rinse the octopus thoroughly under running water. To ensure it’s clean and to enhance its chewy texture, you can rub it with a tablespoon or two of flour. Rinse well afterward.
Step 3
Prepare the vegetables. Thinly slice half an onion. Chop one stalk of green onion into diagonal pieces. Remove the seeds from two Cheongyang chili peppers and one red chili pepper, then chop them. Using a minimal amount of vegetables allows the octopus flavor to shine.
Step 4
Now, let’s make the delicious seasoning sauce for the octopus. In a bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of gochujang, 3 tablespoons of gochugaru, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 3 tablespoons of mirin. Mix everything well.
Step 5
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Hold the octopus by its head with tongs and dip it in the boiling water for about 2 minutes, moving it in and out. This brief blanching is enough since it will cook further during stir-frying. Repeatedly dipping and removing helps the tentacles curl beautifully, resembling flower petals.
Step 6
After blanching, rinse the octopus under cold water and let it cool slightly. Then, cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Step 7
Place the cut octopus in a large bowl and add the prepared seasoning sauce. Gently mix and massage the sauce into the octopus with your hands, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Let it marinate for about 10 minutes for deeper flavor.
Step 8
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-low heat and add some cooking oil. Add the chopped green onions and sauté them until fragrant, creating ‘green onion oil’. Once the aroma is strong, add the sliced onions and stir-fry until they become translucent.
Step 9
Now, add the marinated octopus to the wok with the sautéed green onions and onions. Turn the heat to high and stir-fry quickly. Cooking on high heat for a short time prevents the octopus from becoming tough and keeps it tender.
Step 10
Season with a pinch of black pepper. Add the chopped Cheongyang and red chili peppers and stir-fry for another moment. Finally, turn off the heat, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Your delicious spicy and sweet stir-fried octopus is ready! It’s perfect for serving over rice or mixing with noodles.