Stir-fried Sweet Potato Stems with Beef & Steamed Eggplant with Chili & Stir-fried Anchovies (3 Banchan Recipes)
Our Home’s Staple Side Dishes (3 Types): Stir-fried Sweet Potato Stems, Steamed Eggplant Salad, and Stir-fried Anchovies
Discover three simple and delicious Korean banchan (side dish) recipes perfect for everyday meals. Enjoy the crunchy texture of stir-fried sweet potato stems with beef, the tender and refreshing steamed eggplant, and the savory-sweet stir-fried anchovies. Elevate your dining table with these delightful homemade banchan!
Stir-fried Sweet Potato Stems with Beef- 200g sweet potato stems
- 100g seasoned beef (e.g., bulgogi marinade)
- 1 red chili pepper
- 3 green chili peppers (e.g., Cheongyang chili)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Cooking oil, as needed
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Steamed Eggplant Salad- 2 eggplants
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 green chili peppers (e.g., Cheongyang chili)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
Stir-fried Anchovies- 100g dried anchovies (for soup base)
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 green chili peppers (e.g., Cheongyang chili)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or rice syrup)
- Cooking oil, as needed
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- 2 eggplants
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 green chili peppers (e.g., Cheongyang chili)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
Stir-fried Anchovies- 100g dried anchovies (for soup base)
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 green chili peppers (e.g., Cheongyang chili)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or rice syrup)
- Cooking oil, as needed
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
[Stir-fried Sweet Potato Stems with Beef] First, finely chop the red and green chili peppers. Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch the sweet potato stems for about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them, as you want to maintain their crispiness. 
Step 2
Rinse the blanched sweet potato stems under cold water and drain thoroughly. Cut them into bite-sized pieces (about 5-7 cm long). In a bowl, gently toss the cut stems with 2 Tbsp of fish sauce to marinate. This step helps the stems absorb flavor and become more tender.
Step 3
Heat a pan over medium heat and add cooking oil. Sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. Once the garlic aroma is released, add the marinated sweet potato stems and the seasoned beef (like bulgogi-marinated beef). Stir-fry them together.
Step 4
Once the beef is fully cooked, add the chopped red and green chili peppers and continue to stir-fry. Finally, drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds for added fragrance and flavor. Your delicious stir-fried sweet potato stems with beef are now ready!
Step 5
[Steamed Eggplant Salad] Now, let’s prepare the eggplant salad. Finely chop the red and green chili peppers. Trim the ends of the eggplants, cut them into quarters lengthwise, and steam them for about 10 minutes. Using a steamer rack (like a tripod steamer) ensures the eggplant doesn’t sit directly in water. 
Step 6
Once steamed, let the eggplants cool slightly. Then, gently shred them into bite-sized pieces using your hands. In a bowl, combine the shredded eggplant with the chopped chili peppers, fish sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and minced garlic. Mix everything gently to create a tender salad. (*Tip: This is a nostalgic dish my husband loves for its soft texture. You can also make it chewier according to your preference.)
Step 7
[Stir-fried Anchovies] Finally, we’ll make stir-fried anchovies. Heat cooking oil in a pan over low heat and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Once fragrant, add the dried anchovies and stir-fry them together. 
Step 8
After the anchovies are lightly stir-fried, add soy sauce, cooking wine, and corn syrup. Mix well and stir-fry until the seasoning coats the anchovies evenly. Keep the heat on medium-low while simmering.
Step 9
Once the sauce has thickened slightly, add the chopped red and green chili peppers and quickly stir-fry to combine. Finish by drizzling with sesame oil and sprinkling with sesame seeds for a nutty aroma. Your flavorful stir-fried anchovies are complete!
