Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Octopus Rice Bowl
Delicious Stir-Fried Octopus Made Juicy and Served as a Rice Bowl
Quickly stir-fried in a rich and spicy sauce over high heat, this octopus dish becomes wonderfully juicy thanks to the tender octopus. The sauce reduces to a savory, slightly soupy consistency, making it perfect to ladle over rice for a delightful octopus rice bowl. Enjoy this dish as a flavorful side or a satisfying appetizer. ♡
Main Ingredients- Boiled octopus 450g
- Green onion 1 stalk
- Onion 1
Spicy and Sweet Sauce (measured with a rice spoon)- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 2 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 Tbsp
- Ginger powder 0.2 Tbsp
- Soy sauce (regular) 3 Tbsp
- Soy sauce (soup) 1 Tbsp
- Mirin (rice wine) 2 Tbsp
- Corn syrup 2 Tbsp
- Oyster sauce 1 Tbsp
- Minced garlic 2 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 4 Tbsp (level)
- Black pepper 0.3 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 2 Tbsp
- Sugar 2 Tbsp
- Ginger powder 0.2 Tbsp
- Soy sauce (regular) 3 Tbsp
- Soy sauce (soup) 1 Tbsp
- Mirin (rice wine) 2 Tbsp
- Corn syrup 2 Tbsp
- Oyster sauce 1 Tbsp
- Minced garlic 2 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 4 Tbsp (level)
- Black pepper 0.3 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the sauce, which is the key to this delicious octopus rice bowl. Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Make sure to level off the gochujang when measuring, and adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar or corn syrup to your preference.
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables. Slice the green onion diagonally, about 0.5cm thick. Slice the onion into strips of similar thickness (0.5cm).
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the boiled octopus. If using frozen octopus, thaw it completely either at room temperature or in the refrigerator until it’s soft and pliable. If using freshly boiled octopus, you can use it immediately.
Step 4
There’s no complicated preparation needed for the octopus itself. However, it’s a good idea to remove the somewhat floppy skin, as it can become tough during the stir-frying process. Peel off the skin cleanly.
Step 5
Since we’ll be stir-frying the octopus over high heat for a short time, slice it into bite-sized pieces, about 0.5cm to 1cm thick. This thickness allows the sauce to penetrate well and ensures even cooking. Slicing it thinly is important.
Step 6
Now, let’s start the stir-frying process. Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced green onions and stir-fry until fragrant. Once the green onion aroma is released, add the sliced onion and stir-fry briefly until it’s slightly crisp-tender.
Step 7
Turn the heat up to high. Pour in all the prepared sauce and stir it for about 2 minutes until it starts to bubble and thicken slightly. This step helps to deepen the sauce’s flavor.
Step 8
Add the prepared octopus to the pan. Stir-fry quickly, tossing the octopus to coat it evenly with the sauce, for about 1 to 2 minutes. Just before turning off the heat, sprinkle sesame seeds generously for an extra nutty aroma. 🙂
Step 9
The octopus, stir-fried quickly over high heat, remains tender and doesn’t become tough. The onions are nicely softened and have absorbed the delicious sauce, making them very flavorful.
Step 10
The natural moisture from the tender octopus creates a lovely, slightly soupy sauce. If your octopus was cooked very dry, or if you prefer a more liquid sauce, you can add about half a cup of water and stir-fry it briefly.
Step 11
This octopus rice bowl has an incredibly delicious sauce that makes it perfect as a side dish or a fantastic accompaniment to drinks. We highly recommend you try making it!
