Stir-fried Fish Cakes and Shishito Peppers
A spicy stir-fried side dish featuring fish cakes and shishito peppers, seasoned with gochugaru (고춧가루), soy sauce, allulose, oyster sauce, and more.
📝 Editor's Notes
Eomuk Kkwari-gochu Bokkeum (어묵꽈리고추볶음) is a beloved Korean side dish that harmoniously combines chewy fish cakes and fragrant shishito peppers in a savory and spicy sauce.
The subtle spiciness of the shishito peppers and the umami of the fish cakes create an appetizing flavor.
Best of all, it boasts incredible efficiency with a cooking time of just about 3 minutes, making it perfect for quick preparation even on busy days.
This is an 'easy' level recipe that anyone can make without special ingredients or complex techniques, enjoyable year-round.
Especially in summer, when shishito peppers are in season, you can enjoy an even fresher and more delicious stir-fry.
It's fantastic not only as a lunchbox side dish but also mixed into warm rice.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
For this dish, it's important to choose shishito peppers that are not flimsy, have a vibrant green color, few wrinkles on the surface, and a firm texture.
Also, ensure the stems are not dry and appear fresh.
For fish cakes, select products that have a moderate thickness and chewy texture rather than ones that are too thin or easily crumble; this will make them more delicious when stir-fried.
Soy sauce and oyster sauce are key seasonings that determine the flavor of the dish, so using trusted brands you normally enjoy will reduce the chance of failure.
White soy sauce (백간장) has a lighter color than regular soy sauce and helps preserve the natural color of the ingredients while adding umami, so it's recommended if available.
🔄 Substitution Guide
If shishito peppers are unavailable, you can substitute them with 'asagi-gochu' (아삭이고추, Korean crisp peppers), bell peppers, or green bell peppers.
Asagi-gochu are less spicy than shishito peppers and have a distinct crisp texture, while bell peppers and green bell peppers offer a sweeter flavor for a different taste.
However, note that the unique fragrance of shishito peppers might be reduced.
Instead of fish cakes, you can use chicken breast or tofu.
Chicken breast will boost the protein content, while tofu adds a soft texture and a mild flavor.
In these cases, adjust the stir-frying time according to the ingredient and marinate it beforehand to ensure the seasoning is well absorbed.
If you don't have allulose, you can substitute it with sugar or oligosaccharide.
If oyster sauce is unavailable, you can add a little more soy sauce and some 'mirin' (맛술, cooking wine) to compensate for the umami.
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
The key to Eomuk Kkwari-gochu Bokkeum is 'quick stir-frying.' First, it's crucial to thoroughly dry the shishito peppers after washing.
Any remaining moisture can cause oil to splatter and dilute the seasoning flavor when stir-frying.
Second, lightly stir-fry the fish cakes in the pan first.
This helps remove any fishy odor and enhances their chewy texture.
Third, after adding the shishito peppers, the trick is to stir-fry them quickly over high heat.
Shishito peppers can become soft and lose their unique aroma if cooked for too long, so stir-fry them rapidly within 1 minute on high heat to preserve their crisp texture.
Finally, it's best to add sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds after turning off the heat, allowing the residual heat to infuse their aroma.
This prevents the nutty flavor of the sesame oil from evaporating, resulting in a much richer flavor.
👨🍳 Directions
Wash shishito peppers thoroughly. If the shishito peppers are large, cut them in half.
Heat cooking oil in a pan, add fish cakes, and stir-fry.
Add shishito peppers, 1 tbsp gochugaru (고춧가루), 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp allulose, 1 tbsp white soy sauce (백간장), 1 tbsp minced garlic, and 1 tbsp oyster sauce, then stir-fry.
Finish by adding sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.
Transfer the finished stir-fried fish cakes and shishito peppers into a container.
💡 Tips
If the shishito peppers are large, cut them in half.
Finish with sesame oil and sesame seeds.
📦 Storage & Reuse
Once prepared, Eomuk Kkwari-gochu Bokkeum can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To maintain the crisp texture of the shishito peppers, it's best to consume it as soon as possible.
Freezing is an option, but it's not recommended as the shishito peppers may become soggy upon thawing.
When serving, microwave for about 1 minute or lightly stir-fry in a pan over low heat until warm for an enhanced flavor.
Leftover Eomuk Kkwari-gochu Bokkeum can be used as an ingredient for Gimbap (김밥) or added to fried rice for a unique twist.
It also makes an excellent meal when mixed with rice.
🥢 Who This Is For
Thanks to its spicy yet savory flavor, this Eomuk Kkwari-gochu Bokkeum is a 'rice thief' when served with warm white rice, meaning it's so delicious it makes you eat more rice.
It's an excellent choice when you need a special side dish for everyday home-cooked meals or as a lunchbox accompaniment.
It's a crowd-pleasing flavor that spicy food lovers, adults, and children alike can enjoy.
It can make a more balanced meal when paired with light soups like refreshing 'kongnamul-guk' (콩나물국, soybean sprout soup) or 'miyeok-guk' (미역국, seaweed soup).
It also pairs well with 'gim' (김, roasted seaweed) or 'gyeran-jjim' (계란찜, steamed egg).
🔥 Nutrition Info
Eomuk Kkwari-gochu Bokkeum can be estimated to contain approximately 150-200 calories per serving.
This may vary depending on the type and amount of fish cakes, and the amount of oil used.
You can expect about 8-12g of protein from the fish cakes, about 8-12g of fat from the fish cakes, cooking oil, and sesame oil, and about 10-15g of carbohydrates from the shishito peppers and seasonings (allulose, soy sauce, etc.).
Shishito peppers are rich in Vitamin C, which helps strengthen immunity, and capsaicin, which boosts metabolism.
While fish cakes provide protein from their main ingredient, fish paste, they can be high in sodium, so it's advisable to adjust the seasoning.
Allulose, as a sugar substitute sweetener, helps reduce calorie intake.
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