Garlicky Stir-Fried Fish Cakes (Eomuk Bokkeum)
Easy & Flavorful Stir-Fried Fish Cakes with a Hint of Garlic
While many stir-fry wide, flat fish cakes, this recipe focuses on using the common stick-shaped fish cakes for a delightful dish. If you’ve ever wondered what to make with them, this is your answer! It’s incredibly delicious and simple, perfect as a side dish for any meal. The subtle garlic aroma elevates this classic Korean comfort food.
Main Ingredients- 5 stick-shaped fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1/4 medium onion
- A small piece of carrot (about 1/5 of a small carrot)
- A piece of green onion (about 1/4 of a large stalk)
- 5 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
Seasoning- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (or rice syrup)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (or cooking oil)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (or rice syrup)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (or cooking oil)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by prepping the ingredients. Slice the stick fish cakes diagonally into bite-sized pieces. Avoid slicing them too thinly, as they can become mushy when cooked. Aim for about 0.7cm thickness for a better texture. Thinly julienne the onion and carrot. Slice the green onion diagonally.
Step 2
Now, let’s get stir-frying! Heat a pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the thinly sliced garlic cloves. It’s crucial to maintain medium heat here; high heat will burn the garlic quickly and make it bitter.
Step 3
Once you start to smell a fragrant, toasty aroma from the garlic, it means the garlic-infused oil is ready. At this point, add the prepared stick fish cakes to the pan.
Step 4
Unlike the wide fish cakes, stick fish cakes are thicker, so it’s best to ‘sear’ them in the pan. Keep the heat on medium and stir-fry the fish cakes until they are lightly golden brown. This step helps to enhance their chewy texture.
Step 5
Once the fish cakes are nicely browned, it’s time to stir-fry everything quickly! Turn the heat up to high. Add the julienned onion and carrot, along with 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of corn syrup. Stir-fry rapidly to combine the ingredients and coat the fish cakes evenly.
Step 6
We’re almost done! When the vegetables are slightly tender and everything is well mixed, add the diagonally sliced green onion and 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds. Turn off the heat immediately. The residual heat will finish cooking the green onions, keeping them fresh and vibrant. Your delicious garlicky stir-fried fish cakes are ready! Serve them over warm rice.
