Al-Toran Recipe! Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Dried Shrimp
Don’t Let Those Dried Shrimp Go to Waste! Make a Super Simple Rice-Stealing Side Dish with the Al-Toran Secret Recipe
It’s time to transform those dried shrimp languishing in your freezer into a delicious side dish that will disappear with your rice! I decided to make stir-fried dried shrimp, recalling a recipe introduced on ‘Al-Toran’ a few years ago, and it turned out to be incredibly delicious. The cooking process is also so simple that even beginner cooks can follow along with ease. You’ll find yourself finishing a bowl of rice in no time with each bite! Make a wonderful pantry staple with this stir-fried dried shrimp right now.
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups dried shrimp
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp fine gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 5 Tbsp mirin (or cooking sake)
- 3 Tbsp corn syrup (can substitute with oligodang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 2 cups of dried shrimp. Heat a dry pan over medium-low heat, add the dried shrimp, and stir-fry them for 2-4 minutes, being careful not to burn them. This process removes any fishy smell and enhances their nutty flavor. Once stir-fried, drain the shrimp on a sieve and let them cool slightly.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the delicious sauce. Add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil to the pan. Then, add 2 Tbsp of soy sauce (replacing it with fish sauce can add a deeper flavor), 2 Tbsp of ketchup, 2 Tbsp of fine gochugaru, 5 Tbsp of mirin, 3 Tbsp of corn syrup (you can substitute with oligodang for sweetness control), and 1 Tbsp of minced garlic. Stir everything together to combine.
Step 3
Bring the prepared sauce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Once it starts to bubble, don’t turn up the heat too high. Maintain medium-low heat and let it simmer gently.
Step 4
As the sauce simmers and reduces to about half its original volume, add the dried shrimp that you drained earlier. Stir-fry while gently tossing with a spatula, ensuring the sauce coats the shrimp evenly. Be careful not to stir-fry over high heat, as it might burn.
Step 5
Finally, add 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds. Quickly stir once more, then immediately turn off the heat. The nutty aroma of sesame oil and seeds will further enhance the flavor. Your delicious stir-fried dried shrimp is complete!
