Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Octopus and Pork Belly
The Perfect Combination of Chewy Octopus and Tender Pork Belly! Delicious Nak-sam Bulgogi Recipe
Tired of plain grilled pork belly? Looking for a special and delicious pork belly dish? ‘Nakji Samgyeop-sal Bulgogi’, made by stir-frying fresh octopus with thick pork belly, offers an exquisite harmony of chewy octopus and tender pork belly. The sweet and spicy sauce is a true rice thief that stimulates your appetite. Enjoy a special meal with this mouthwatering Nak-sam Bulgogi!
Main Ingredients
- 300g Pork Belly
- 2 medium-sized Octopuses
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare 300g of fresh pork belly. Using thicker cuts will provide a more satisfying chew.
Step 2
Wash the 2 octopuses thoroughly by rubbing them with a handful of coarse salt. Carefully remove the internal organs and ink sacs from the head using a knife. Cut off the eyes with scissors to prevent ink from squirting out during cooking.
Step 3
Briefly blanch the cleaned octopus in boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become tough.
Step 4
Cut the blanched octopus into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm). Slice the onion thinly and diagonally slice the Cheongyang peppers. (Optional: Prepare other vegetables like bell peppers or green onions according to your preference.)
Step 5
Make the delicious sauce for the Nak-sam Bulgogi. In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 4 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp minced garlic, 2 Tbsp sugar, and a splash of mirin. Mix well. (Tip: Adding gochujang (Korean chili paste) can add a spicier and deeper flavor, but you can omit it if you prefer a less thick taste.)
Step 6
Add the cut octopus and sliced onions to the prepared sauce. Gently mix and marinate for a short while, allowing the flavors to meld.
Step 7
Heat a pan over medium heat and add the pork belly. Grill it slowly.
Step 8
Once the pork belly is golden brown on both sides, cut it into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm). Your delicious grilled pork belly is ready!
Step 9
Place the marinated octopus and vegetables on top of the well-grilled pork belly.
Step 10
Turn the heat up to high and stir-fry quickly until all ingredients are well combined. Since the octopus is already blanched, stir-frying on high heat for a short time will keep it wonderfully chewy and tender.
Step 11
Finally, drizzle with sesame oil for fragrance and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Give it a final mix, and your delicious Nak-sam Bulgogi stir-fry is complete!
Step 12
This Nak-sam Bulgogi features an amazing balance of spicy-sweet flavor, chewy octopus, and tender pork belly, making it a perfect dish. Don’t forget to mix in some rice with the leftover sauce – it’s incredibly delicious! (Tip: For Nak-sam Bulgogi, using thick-cut pork belly rather than thinly sliced ‘daepae samgyeopsal’ provides a better texture and flavor.)
