Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Baby Octopus with Pork Belly
Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Baby Octopus with Pork Belly
The Ultimate Recipe for Deliciously Spicy and Sweet Baby Octopus with Pork Belly
A fantastic combination of chewy baby octopus and savory pork belly! Make this delicious stir-fried dish at home easily. It’s perfect as a side dish for rice or as a tasty accompaniment to drinks. Adding plenty of vegetables makes it a nutritious and satisfying meal.
Main Ingredients for Stir-Fried Baby Octopus with Pork Belly- 6 cleaned baby octopuses
- 200g pork belly
- 1 large green onion (white part mainly)
- 1/4 carrot (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 onion (sliced)
Spicy & Sweet Sauce- 1.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup or rice syrup
- 1 Tbsp mirin (rice wine for cooking)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- A pinch of grated ginger (optional)
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sugar
For Cleaning Baby Octopus- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
- 1.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup or rice syrup
- 1 Tbsp mirin (rice wine for cooking)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- A pinch of grated ginger (optional)
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sugar
For Cleaning Baby Octopus- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thoroughly wash the baby octopus by vigorously rubbing it with flour and coarse sea salt until the sticky mucus is gone. Rinse well to remove impurities. This step ensures a clean texture.
Step 2
Carefully open the body of the cleaned baby octopus with scissors and remove the internal organs and beak. Removing the ink sac helps prevent the sauce from becoming murky.
Step 3
Blanch the prepared baby octopus in boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become tough. Immediately rinse with cold water, drain well, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Step 4
In a wide pan, add the pork belly and stir-fry over medium heat until it renders its fat. Once the fat starts to release, add the sliced green onion (white parts), onion, and carrot. Stir-fry together to bring out the sweetness of the vegetables and enhance the flavor of the pork belly. Add 1 Tbsp of sugar at this stage to coat the ingredients and add depth of flavor.
Step 5
In a small bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients (gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, corn syrup, mirin, minced garlic, grated ginger, black pepper, sugar). Stir well until the sugar is dissolved to create the sauce. Adjust sugar to your preference.
Step 6
Add the prepared sauce to the pan with the stir-fried pork belly and vegetables. Mix everything well and continue to stir-fry. For an even more satisfying dish, consider adding sliced cabbage or perilla leaves at this stage for added texture and aroma.
Step 7
Once the vegetables are partially cooked, add the blanched baby octopus. Increase the heat to high and stir-fry quickly. Seafood cooks best over high heat for a short time to maintain its chewy texture and prevent excess liquid from forming. Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for extra fragrance. Enjoy your delicious stir-fried baby octopus with pork belly!
