Spicy & Sweet Gochujang Fish Cake Stir-fry: A Rice-Stealing Side Dish!
Spicy & Sweet Gochujang Fish Cake Stir-fry: A Rice-Stealing Side Dish!
Easy Recipe for Spicy & Sweet Gochujang Fish Cake Stir-fry
Let me share my secret to making a perfectly spicy and sweet Gochujang Fish Cake Stir-fry! It’s simple to make, incredibly delicious, and a fantastic side dish for rice or even a snack on its own.
Main Ingredients- 6 sheets of square fish cakes (approx. 300g)
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 Korean green chili peppers (adjust to your spice preference)
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- A pinch of sesame seeds (for garnish)
Spicy & Sweet Sauce- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust for spiciness)
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp fish sauce (for umami)
- 2/3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste, adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup or honey (for gloss)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust for spiciness)
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp fish sauce (for umami)
- 2/3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste, adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup or honey (for gloss)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the vegetables. Thinly slice the onion. Remove seeds from the red and green chili peppers and thinly slice them. If you like it spicier, you can leave the seeds in the Korean green chilies.
Step 2
Next, prepare the star ingredient: the fish cakes. Cut the square fish cakes into bite-sized pieces, about 3x4cm for children or 2x3cm for adults. I used a mix of different types of fish cakes for added texture. ^^~
Step 3
Now, let’s make the flavor-packed sauce! In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 Tbsp fish sauce, and 2/3 Tbsp gochujang. Whisk until well combined and smooth. Fish sauce is the secret ingredient for extra umami!
Step 4
Heat 3 Tbsp of cooking oil in a wide pan over low heat. Add 1 Tbsp of minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic; slow frying brings out its best aroma.
Step 5
Once the garlic is fragrant, add the sliced onions to the pan and increase the heat to medium. Stir-fry for about 1 minute until the onions become translucent. This will bring out their natural sweetness.
Step 6
When the onions are slightly translucent, add all the prepared fish cakes to the pan. Briefly stir-fry them to coat evenly with the garlicky oil. This helps infuse the fish cakes with flavor. ㅎㅎ
Step 7
Pour the prepared spicy and sweet sauce over the fish cakes and onions. Mix everything thoroughly to ensure the sauce evenly coats all the ingredients.
Step 8
Continue stir-frying over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to penetrate the fish cakes. Add the sliced red and green chili peppers during this stage for a vibrant color and an extra kick of heat. ~*
Step 9
Just before turning off the heat, stir in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and 1 Tbsp of corn syrup (or honey). This adds a wonderful nutty aroma, a subtle sweetness, and a beautiful glossy finish to the stir-fry.
Step 10
Finally, sprinkle some sesame seeds over the finished dish. Your delicious Spicy & Sweet Gochujang Fish Cake Stir-fry is ready! It’s also great served over a bowl of warm rice for a simple and satisfying meal.
