Tender Shiitake Mushroom and Chewy Fish Cake Stir-fry
Tender Shiitake Mushroom and Chewy Fish Cake Stir-fry
Shiitake Mushroom and Fish Cake Stir-fry Recipe
Introducing a magical side dish featuring the delightful combination of savory shiitake mushrooms and soft, chewy fish cakes. With its irresistibly sweet and savory glaze, it’s a guaranteed rice thief! While a spicy version is also delicious, today we’re making it with a rich soy sauce-based glaze that enhances the deep, complex flavors. This beloved banchan disappears in an instant once served on a plate. Shall we make it together now?
Main Ingredients- 2 sheets of square fish cake (approx. 200g)
- 3 fresh shiitake mushrooms (approx. 100g)
- 1/4 onion
- 1/2 stalk of green onion
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
Sweet & Savory Sauce- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (adds sweetness and shine)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (can be adjusted to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (adjust to your preference)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil (for the final fragrant aroma)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (boosts nuttiness!)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (removes odor and enhances flavor)
- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (adds sweetness and shine)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (can be adjusted to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (adjust to your preference)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil (for the final fragrant aroma)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (boosts nuttiness!)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (removes odor and enhances flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, we’ll remove the excess oil from the fish cakes. Pour boiling water over the square fish cakes or briefly blanch them in boiling water. This process removes the characteristic oiliness of fish cakes, allowing for a cleaner taste. After draining, cut the fish cakes into bite-sized pieces, dividing them in half vertically and then slicing them lengthwise into strips about 1cm wide.
Step 2
Gently wipe the surface of the shiitake mushrooms with a damp paper towel or rinse them lightly under running water. Avoid soaking them for too long, as this can diminish their aroma. Once cleaned, slice the shiitake mushrooms lengthwise into strips, similar in size to the fish cakes. It’s best to slice them not too thinly to maintain their chewy texture.
Step 3
Peel and thinly slice the onion into strips about 0.5cm thick. Slice the green onion diagonally into pieces about 1cm thick, separating the white and green parts. This will add a nice color and distribute the aroma evenly.
Step 4
Let’s make the key to a delicious stir-fry: the sauce! In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, plum extract, corn syrup, minced garlic, black pepper, and cooking wine. Mix them well. Set aside the sesame oil and sesame seeds that will be added at the end. Preparing the sauce in advance makes the cooking process much smoother.
Step 5
Now, it’s time to stir-fry. Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and stir-fry until they become translucent. Once the onions start to turn transparent, add the sliced fish cakes and stir-fry until their edges become slightly firm and chewy. This step helps enhance the texture of the fish cakes.
Step 6
When the fish cakes are sufficiently stir-fried, push them and the onions to one side of the pan to create space in the center. Pour the prepared sauce into this space and let it bubble and thicken slightly. Once the sauce starts to simmer, reduce the heat slightly and let it reduce a bit while watching it carefully.
Step 7
When the sauce is simmering, add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and stir-fry them together until the sauce is well absorbed into the mushrooms. Once the mushrooms soften, add the sliced green onions and stir-fry for just a short while longer. Be careful not to overcook the green onions, as this will make them lose their crispness.
Step 8
Once all ingredients are well combined and the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat. Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds for a fragrant finish. Adding sesame oil and seeds after turning off the heat preserves their aroma. Enjoy your delicious Shiitake Mushroom and Fish Cake Stir-fry!
