Spicy & Sweet Stir-fried Baby Octopus with Bean Sprouts
Spicy & Sweet Stir-fried Baby Octopus with Bean Sprouts
Chef Baek Jong-won’s Signature Recipe: Enhanced Baby Octopus Bulgogi with Bean Sprouts and Pork Belly
As March 3rd, ‘Samgyeopsal Day’, approaches, are you looking for a special dish? This recipe brings together the seasonal delicacy of baby octopus, savory pork belly, and crisp bean sprouts for an incredibly delicious ‘Kongbul’ (bean sprout bulgogi). Utilizing Baek Jong-won’s gochujang-based sauce from ‘Food Vender’ (Matnamui Gwangjang), you can achieve a restaurant-quality taste right at home. This spicy and sweet bean sprout bulgogi is sure to become a new favorite, a true rice thief!
Main Ingredients- 400g prepared baby octopus
- 300g pork belly (thick cut recommended)
- 300g fresh bean sprouts
- 1/2 green onion, diagonally sliced
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
Kongbul Sauce- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp salt
- A pinch of black pepper
Fried Rice Ingredients (Optional)- 2 bowls cooked rice
- 1 cup seaweed flakes (kim)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped aged kimchi
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp salt
- A pinch of black pepper
Fried Rice Ingredients (Optional)- 2 bowls cooked rice
- 1 cup seaweed flakes (kim)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped aged kimchi
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thaw Octopus and Pork Belly: Remove frozen baby octopus and pork belly from the freezer 1-2 hours before cooking and let them thaw at room temperature. For faster thawing, you can submerge the sealed package in cool water. (Tip: Thinly sliced pork belly, like ‘daepae samgyeopsal’, can be cooked directly from frozen without thawing.)
Step 2
Rinse the Octopus: Once thawed, rinse the baby octopus under running water. If using pre-prepared octopus, a simple rinse is sufficient. (Tip: For a cleaner taste, turn the head inside out to remove the innards and pluck out the beak.)
Step 3
Drain the Octopus: Place the rinsed octopus in a colander to drain excess water thoroughly.
Step 4
Prepare Vegetables: Slice the green onion diagonally and thinly slice the onion. (Optional: If you prefer a spicier dish, thinly slice some Cheongyang peppers.)
Step 5
First Marination for Octopus: In a bowl, combine the baby octopus, sliced onion, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Gently mix and knead them together. This step allows the onion’s juices to naturally infuse the octopus, enhancing its flavor.
Step 6
Second Marination for Octopus: Add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of gochujang, 2 tablespoons of gochugaru, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of black pepper to the marinated octopus. Mix well until evenly coated. This sauce combination perfectly balances the flavors of the ingredients.
Step 7
Rinse Bean Sprouts: Rinse the bean sprouts under running water about twice, then drain them thoroughly in a colander. Ensuring they are well-drained is key for a crisp texture.
Step 8
Cook Pork Belly: Heat a wide pan over high heat and stir-fry the pork belly until golden brown and slightly crispy. If there’s excessive oil, gently pat it dry with paper towels to reduce greasiness. (Tip: If using thinly sliced pork belly, you can skip this step and cook it together with the other ingredients.)
Step 9
Stir-fry All Ingredients: Once the pork belly is browned, add the prepared bean sprouts, marinated baby octopus, and (if using) Cheongyang peppers to the pan. Stir-fry everything together until well combined. Don’t worry if it seems overflowing at first; the bean sprouts will shrink significantly as they cook. You can even add extra bean sprouts for a crunchier texture.
Step 10
Finish Cooking: Turn off the heat once the bean sprouts are tender and the octopus is cooked through. (Caution: Avoid overcooking the octopus, as it can become tough.) Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a delightful finish. Your Spicy & Sweet Stir-fried Baby Octopus with Bean Sprouts is ready!
Step 11
Make Fried Rice: Utilize the leftover sauce for a delicious fried rice. In the pan, stir-fry the chopped aged kimchi briefly. Then, add the cooked rice, seaweed flakes, and mozzarella cheese. Mix everything well, cover the pan, and let it cook over low heat until slightly crispy at the bottom. Enjoy your flavorful fried rice!
