Sweet & Savory Soy Sauce Braised Potatoes (Gamja-chae Gan-jang Bokkeum)
Stir-Fried Shredded Potatoes with Soy Sauce: The Ultimate Rice Companion
While potato dishes are often simply seasoned with salt, this recipe offers a delightful twist by incorporating soy sauce for a sweet and savory flavor profile. This is one of our family’s signature side dishes, Gamja-chae Gan-jang Bokkeum, guaranteed to make you devour a bowl of rice in no time. Experience the irresistible combination of chewy potatoes and sweet onions, a delightful dish that appeals to all ages. Make this special side dish easily at home!
Main Ingredients- 3 medium-sized potatoes (approx. 500-600g)
- 1 onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the star of our dish: 3 medium-sized potatoes. Wash them thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris.
Step 2
Peel the skin off the washed potatoes using a peeler or a knife.
Step 3
Slice the peeled potatoes thinly, about 4mm thick, and then cut them into julienne strips, approximately 3-4mm in width. Cutting them to an appropriate thickness is key – too thin and they might break, too thick and they’ll take too long to cook.
Step 4
Place the julienned potatoes in a bowl of cold water for about 5-10 minutes. This step is crucial for removing excess starch, which prevents the potato strips from sticking together and ensures a cleaner texture when stir-fried.
Step 5
Next, wash and prepare 1 onion. Remove the outer skin of the onion.
Step 6
Cut the onion in half and then slice it into julienne strips, similar in length and thickness to the potatoes. Avoid slicing them too thinly for a better texture.
Step 7
Julienning the onion to a similar thickness as the potatoes will help them cook evenly and meld together beautifully.
Step 8
Gently rinse the potato strips that were soaking in water to remove the starch. Then, drain them thoroughly in a colander. Ensure they are well-drained, as residual water can cause oil to splatter during cooking.
Step 9
Now, let’s begin stir-frying. Lightly heat a pan and add a moderate amount of cooking oil. Keep the heat at medium-low to prevent the potatoes from burning.
Step 10
Add all the drained potato strips to the pan. Spread them out evenly.
Step 11
Stir-fry the potato strips gently with a spatula or chopsticks for about 3-4 minutes. Continue cooking until the potato strips start to turn translucent. This indicates they are partially cooked and will have a pleasant chewy texture.
Step 12
Once the potato strips appear partially translucent, add the julienned onion to the pan.
Step 13
Stir-fry the onions with the potatoes until they become translucent. The natural sweetness of the onions will start to emerge and blend with the potatoes.
Step 14
As the onions begin to turn transparent, pour in the 6 tablespoons of soy sauce. Drizzle it around the edges or into the center of the pan; the slight caramelization will add depth of flavor.
Step 15
Immediately after adding the soy sauce, add the 3 tablespoons of sugar and 3 tablespoons of water. Gently toss everything together to ensure the sweet and savory seasonings are well distributed amongst the vegetables.
Step 16
Cover the pan and let it simmer on low heat for 5-10 minutes. This braising step allows the flavors to meld beautifully and tenderizes the potatoes and onions, creating a rich taste.
Step 17
Once everything is well-braised and the flavors have melded, sprinkle a pinch of black pepper over the dish to enhance the aroma and taste. You can also add sesame seeds if you like.
Step 18
Transfer the perfectly cooked Soy Sauce Braised Potatoes to a serving plate. This delicious homemade side dish is ready to be enjoyed with a warm bowl of rice!