Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Anchovy with Gochujang
Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Anchovy with Gochujang
A Delicious Side Dish: Spicy Stir-Fried Anchovy with Gochujang
I’ve always enjoyed anchovies as fish sauce, but this is my first time eating them prepared this way. This spicy side dish is made by stir-frying them with gochujang! It’s a delightful and easy recipe that brings a wonderful balance of spicy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors. Perfect for a quick side dish or a flavorful snack.
Main Ingredients- 300g of short-jawed anchovies (kkana-ri)
- 5 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 Cheongyang peppers (spicy Korean chili peppers), thinly sliced
Seasoning- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Maesilcheong (Korean plum extract)
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (cooking wine)
- 1/2 Tbsp Ginger syrup (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- 1/2 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 1/3 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Maesilcheong (Korean plum extract)
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (cooking wine)
- 1/2 Tbsp Ginger syrup (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- 1/2 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 1/3 Tbsp Sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the short-jawed anchovies briefly under running water and drain them well. Spread them out on a plate and microwave for 1 minute to dry them out. Microwave for 30 seconds, flip them over, and microwave for another 30 seconds. This helps to reduce any fishy smell and achieve a crispier texture. Let them cool completely.
Step 2
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant and lightly golden brown, being careful not to burn it. The infused garlic oil will add a wonderful aroma to the dish.
Step 3
Add the dried anchovies to the pan with the garlic and stir-fry quickly. Coating the anchovies in the oil will make them even more fragrant and crispy. Give it a good ‘shake shake’!
Step 4
Add the thinly sliced Cheongyang peppers for a kick of spice and stir-fry along with the anchovies. The spiciness of the peppers complements the savory anchovies beautifully. Another ‘shake shake’!
Step 5
Turn off the heat momentarily. In a separate bowl, combine the gochujang, maesilcheong, mirin, and ginger syrup to create the sauce. Pour the sauce into the pan and mix well with the anchovies and peppers.
Step 6
Ensure the sauce is evenly distributed over the ingredients. Turn the heat back on to high and stir-fry quickly until the sauce is glossy and coats everything nicely. Stirring constantly prevents the sauce from burning.
Step 7
Finish the dish by sprinkling toasted sesame seeds and drizzling a little sesame oil for extra flavor and aroma. Your delicious spicy stir-fried anchovy dish is ready! It’s perfect served over a bowl of warm rice.
