Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Eel
Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Eel to Revive Your Appetite
On hot days like these, when your appetite disappears, I’ve made a delicious stir-fried eel dish that will bring it right back. The combination of tender eel and crisp vegetables is a perfect match for rice.
Main Ingredients
- 1 Freshwater Eel (cleaned)
- 5 Perilla Leaves (깻잎)
- 1/2 Onion
- 1 Green Onion (Scallion)
- 3 Cheongyang Peppers (청양고추)
- A little Cooking Oil
Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce (Jin-ganjang)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean Chili Paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce (Jin-ganjang)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean Chili Paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the main ingredients for this dish: fresh freshwater eel, aromatic perilla leaves, and sweet onion. Fresh ingredients are the start of a delicious meal.
Step 2
Place the cleaned freshwater eel on a cutting board and slice it into bite-sized pieces, about 3-4 cm in length. Cutting them too small might cause them to break apart while stir-frying, so aim for a moderate size.
Step 3
To remove any fishy odor, blanch the sliced eel in boiling water for about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking wine (like Mirin) to the boiling water. Be careful not to overcook, as this can make the texture tough.
Step 4
While the eel is blanching, let’s make the flavorful sauce. In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp gochugaru, and 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic. Mix well until the sugar is dissolved. You can add a little corn syrup or honey for extra sweetness if you prefer.
Step 5
Heat a little cooking oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and stir-fry until it becomes fragrant and translucent. Cooking the vegetables until they soften will bring out their sweetness.
Step 6
Once the onions are softened, add the blanched eel to the pan. Stir-fry together with the vegetables quickly. It’s important to stir occasionally to prevent the eel from sticking to the pan.
Step 7
When some moisture starts to release from the eel and vegetables, add all the prepared sauce to the pan. Stir and cook until everything is evenly coated. Finally, add the chopped green onion and the spicy Cheongyang peppers, and stir-fry for another moment until done.
Step 8
You can add a pinch of black pepper for extra aroma if you like, but it’s delicious without it too. Your wonderfully glossy, spicy, and sweet stir-fried eel is now ready! Enjoy it with a warm bowl of rice.
