Sweet Pumpkin and Beltfish Stew: A Delectable Recipe
Sweet Pumpkin and Beltfish Stew: A Delectable Recipe
Flavorful Beltfish Stew with Sweet Pumpkin
Today, we’ll be making a delicious beltfish stew featuring the natural sweetness of pumpkin. This dish offers a wonderful balance of flavors and textures, perfect for any meal.
Main Ingredients- 500g Beltfish, cut into serving pieces
- 6 slices Radish (approx. 1cm thick)
- 1 handful Sweet Pumpkin, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 Onion, sliced thickly
- 1/2 Scallion, cut diagonally
- 1 Red Chili Pepper, sliced into rounds
- 1 Green Chili Pepper, sliced into rounds
- 1 pack Enoki Mushrooms, trimmed and separated
Seasoning Ingredients- 1/2 cup Soy Sauce for Soup (approx. 100ml)
- 3 Tbsp Oligodang (corn syrup) (approx. 45ml)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar or Cactus Powder (approx. 22ml)
- 3 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine) (approx. 45ml)
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic (approx. 30ml)
- Pinch of Ginger Powder
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (red chili paste) (approx. 30ml)
- 6 Tbsp Gochugaru (red chili flakes) (approx. 90ml)
- 1.5 Tbsp Cooking Oil (approx. 22ml)
- 2 cups Water (approx. 400ml)
- 1/2 cup Soy Sauce for Soup (approx. 100ml)
- 3 Tbsp Oligodang (corn syrup) (approx. 45ml)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar or Cactus Powder (approx. 22ml)
- 3 Tbsp Mirin (rice wine) (approx. 45ml)
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic (approx. 30ml)
- Pinch of Ginger Powder
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (red chili paste) (approx. 30ml)
- 6 Tbsp Gochugaru (red chili flakes) (approx. 90ml)
- 1.5 Tbsp Cooking Oil (approx. 22ml)
- 2 cups Water (approx. 400ml)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
The first step to eliminating any fishy odor is to properly prepare the beltfish. Use the dull side of a knife (the back of the blade) to scrape off the scales. Freshly caught beltfish have fewer scales and less odor, but as time passes, scales can accumulate the fishy smell, so thorough removal is key. Also, trim off any fins.
Step 2
Let’s prepare the vegetables. Slice the radish into half-moon shapes, about 1cm thick. Wash the sweet pumpkin well and cut it into bite-sized pieces, similar to chestnut size. Slice the onion thickly into strips, and thinly slice the red and green chili peppers into rounds for color. Cut the scallion diagonally into large pieces for aroma. For the enoki mushrooms, trim off the base and gently separate the strands. A neat trick is to form rings with the chili pepper slices and thread the mushrooms through them before cooking; this helps the mushrooms maintain their shape.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the flavorful seasoning sauce. In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup of soy sauce for soup, 3 Tbsp of oligodang, 1.5 Tbsp of sugar or cactus powder, 3 Tbsp of mirin, 2 Tbsp of minced garlic, a pinch of ginger powder, 2 Tbsp of gochujang, and 6 Tbsp of gochugaru. The secret ingredient here is 1.5 Tbsp of cooking oil! Adding oil prevents the sauce from burning and helps achieve a beautifully simmered dish.
Step 4
It’s time to adjust the consistency of the sauce. Add 1 cup of water to the prepared seasoning mixture and stir well. Adding water first makes it easier to pour the sauce evenly into the pot without clumping.
Step 5
Let’s layer the ingredients in the stew pot. Start by placing the sliced radish at the bottom of the pot. Then, arrange the sliced onion and sweet pumpkin on top. Finally, place the prepared beltfish pieces attractively over the vegetables. Now, pour the adjusted seasoning sauce evenly over the beltfish.
Step 6
The simmering begins! To effectively remove any initial fishy smell, cook uncovered over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot, and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. After this second 10-minute simmer, rinse the empty sauce bowl with 1 cup of water and pour that water back into the pot. This helps prevent sticking and keeps the stew moist.
Step 7
Now, uncover the pot and continue to simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 more minutes. A good stew shouldn’t have too much liquid; we want it to be nicely reduced and savory. Stir gently to avoid breaking the sweet pumpkin pieces.
Step 8
Finally, add the sliced chili peppers, enoki mushrooms, and scallions for color and aroma. Simmer for just 2 more minutes. The Sweet Pumpkin and Beltfish Stew is almost ready, with all the ingredients perfectly coated in the delicious sauce!
Step 9
Our Sweet Pumpkin and Beltfish Stew is perfectly completed! Enjoy this delicious dish with a side of warm rice.
