Savory and Sweet Stir-Fried Fish Cakes: A Classic Korean Side Dish
Super Simple ‘Sumine Banchan’ Style Stir-Fried Fish Cakes Recipe
Whip up a classic Korean side dish, ‘Eomuk Bokkeum’ (stir-fried fish cakes), with this incredibly simple recipe. It’s quick, flavorful, and perfect for a weeknight meal or to pack into your bento box.
Main Ingredients
- 2 sheets of rectangular fish cakes (eomuk)
- 1 Korean green chili pepper (optional, adjust for spice preference)
Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp water
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp water
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare your ingredients: have 2 sheets of rectangular fish cakes and 1 Korean green chili pepper ready. (For reference, the original ‘Sumine Banchan’ recipe uses 10 sheets of fish cakes, chili peppers, 2 tsp sugar, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and some sesame seeds, so feel free to scale accordingly.)
Step 2
Slice the fish cakes into approximately 1cm wide strips. Cutting them not too thinly will help maintain a pleasant chewy texture.
Step 3
Heat a pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of water. (We’re using a smaller amount of soy sauce and water here because we’re only cooking 2 sheets of fish cakes. Adjust based on the quantity of fish cakes you are using.)
Step 4
Add a small pinch of sugar to the pan. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves in the liquid over medium heat. Be careful not to burn the sugar.
Step 5
Once the sugar has dissolved and the sauce is shimmering, add the sliced fish cakes to the pan. Stir well to coat the fish cakes evenly with the sauce.
Step 6
Finely chop the Korean green chili pepper. If you prefer less spice, you can omit it or substitute with a regular green bell pepper.
Step 7
As the fish cakes begin to turn slightly golden and tender, add the chopped chili pepper to the pan. Stir-fry them together until the chili pepper is fragrant.
Step 8
Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning if needed. If it needs more saltiness, add a little more soy sauce. Finally, drizzle in a touch of sesame oil for added aroma and flavor.
Step 9
Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the stir-fried fish cakes for a final touch of nutty flavor. Your dish is ready!
Step 10
Congratulations! Your ‘Sumine Banchan’ style stir-fried fish cakes are complete. Enjoy this delicious, classic Korean side dish with a bowl of rice!
