Korean Fish Cake Stir-fry (Eomuk Bokkeum) – Quick & Savory
Sumine Banchan Style: Super Simple Stir-fried Fish Cakes – A Must-Try Korean Dish
This is a classic Korean side dish that’s irresistibly delicious with its perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. The tender fish cakes soak up the savory sauce, making it a dish you’ll keep reaching for!
Main Ingredients
- 8 sheets of Korean fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1 Cheongyang chili pepper
- 20g green onion (about 1/4 stalk)
Seasoning Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the fish cakes. Cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 2cm wide, in a rectangular shape. This size allows the sauce to evenly coat and penetrate the fish cakes, making them more flavorful.
Step 2
Next, prepare the other vegetables. Finely chop the green onion. For the Cheongyang chili pepper, remove the seeds and slice it diagonally. You can adjust the amount of chili pepper to your spice preference.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the sauce. In a pan, combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of water, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Heat the pan over medium heat and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Dissolving the sugar prevents it from burning and ensures it melds well with the fish cakes.
Step 4
Once the sugar has dissolved, immediately add the cut fish cakes to the pan. Stir gently with chopsticks or a spatula to ensure the sauce coats the fish cakes evenly. As the fish cakes simmer, they will absorb the sauce and develop a delightful chewy texture.
Step 5
When the fish cakes have been stir-fried with the sauce for a bit, add the prepared green onions and Cheongyang chili peppers. Stir-fry for another minute or so. Adding the vegetables introduces a refreshing crispness and aromatic flavor, enhancing the overall dish.
Step 6
Finally, let’s add shine and aroma. Stir in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds for a nutty fragrance. Then, add 3 tablespoons of honey for a subtle sweetness and a glossy finish. Honey adds a more refined sweetness compared to just sugar.
Step 7
Once all ingredients are well combined, turn off the heat and transfer the delicious stir-fried fish cakes to a serving dish. Enjoy this savory and sweet Korean side dish, perfect with a bowl of hot rice or as part of your bento box!
