Savory and Chewy Stir-Fried Fish Cakes (Eomuk Bokkeum)
Easy and Quick Recipe for Delicious Stir-Fried Fish Cakes
Freshly made fish cakes are wonderful served over a bowl of warm rice, aren’t they??!!
Main Ingredients- 3 sheets of square fish cakes (eomuk), cut into bite-sized pieces (approx. 2cm x 7cm)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 stalk of green onion, diagonally sliced
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, cut the fish cakes into bite-sized pieces, about 2cm by 7cm. Cutting them too small might cause them to break apart during cooking, so aim for a moderate size. Thinly slice the onion and diagonally slice the green onion.
Step 2
Heat the cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry over low heat until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic; stir-frying until a gentle garlic aroma rises is key.
Step 3
Once the garlic is fragrant, add the prepared fish cakes to the pan. Stir-fry over medium heat, stirring continuously to prevent sticking. Coating the fish cakes evenly with oil will enhance their chewy texture.
Step 4
When the fish cakes become slightly translucent and have been well-coated with oil, add the sliced onions. Stir-fry together until the onions soften and become translucent. This will release their sweetness, making the dish more flavorful.
Step 5
Add the cooking wine (mirin or sake) to help eliminate any fishy odors and add depth of flavor. Stir-fry quickly to incorporate it into the ingredients.
Step 6
Next, add the soy sauce and stir-fry until the fish cakes and onions are evenly coated with the sauce. Be mindful of the heat to prevent the soy sauce from burning.
Step 7
Add the corn syrup (or sugar) for sweetness and stir-fry until the dish has a glossy appearance. Corn syrup provides a smoother sweetness and better gloss than sugar. Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
Step 8
Finally, add a pinch of black pepper for extra flavor. Be careful not to add too much, as it can make the dish too spicy.
Step 9
Add the diagonally sliced green onions and stir-fry just until they are slightly wilted. The crisp texture and fresh aroma of the green onions will add a nice contrast to the dish.
Step 10
Turn off the heat. Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds for a nutty aroma and finish. Stir well, and your delicious stir-fried fish cakes are ready!
Step 11
If you like it spicy, you can add minced cheongyang peppers or a little oyster sauce for an enhanced flavor. Enjoy your delicious eomuk bokkeum with a bowl of warm rice!
