Budget-Friendly Odeng Japchae: A Quick & Delicious Meal
Odeng Japchae (Fish Cake Stir-Fry)
Transform your leftovers into a delightful meal with this Odeng Japchae recipe! Using fish cakes, assorted vegetables, and a simple egg garnish, you can create a satisfying and economical dish. It’s a quicker and more affordable alternative to traditional Japchae, perfect for a wholesome family dinner.
Main Ingredients- 4 sheets of square fish cakes (odeng)
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 4 large eggs
- 1 red bell pepper
Seasoning- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic (approx. 1 tsp)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup or honey
- A pinch of black pepper
- 2 Tbsp water
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic (approx. 1 tsp)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup or honey
- A pinch of black pepper
- 2 Tbsp water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the fish cakes by slicing them into thin strips, about 0.5cm wide. This ensures they absorb flavors well and have a pleasing texture when stir-fried with other ingredients.
Step 2
For the red bell pepper, trim off the stem and bottom end about 0.5cm from each. Cut the pepper in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and membranes, then slice it into thin strips, approximately 0.5cm wide. Its vibrant color will enhance the dish’s presentation.
Step 3
Prepare the yellow bell pepper in the same way as the red one: remove stem and bottom, halve, deseed, and slice into thin strips of about 0.5cm width. The variety of colors makes the dish visually appealing.
Step 4
Similarly, trim and deseed the green bell pepper, then slice it into thin strips of about 0.5cm width. Its fresh aroma will complement the other vegetables.
Step 5
Peel the onion and slice it into thin strips, about 0.5cm thick. Feel free to add other vegetables like mushrooms or carrots from your refrigerator to make it even more substantial.
Step 6
In a bowl, crack the 4 eggs. Add a pinch of salt and whisk thoroughly with a fork until well combined. A smooth egg mixture will result in a tender egg garnish.
Step 7
Heat a lightly oiled non-stick pan over low heat. Pour in the beaten egg mixture thinly to create an egg crepe or ‘jidan’. Cook until the edges start to set, then gently flip it to cook the other side. Once cooked, turn off the heat. Let it cool slightly, then slice the egg crepe into thin strips similar in size to the other vegetables.
Step 8
Now, let’s make the flavorful sauce. Combine 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp oyster sauce, 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1/2 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or honey), a pinch of black pepper, and 2 Tbsp water in a bowl. Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. A well-balanced sauce is key to delicious Japchae!
Step 9
In a clean pan, heat a small amount of cooking oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic (1/2 Tbsp) and sauté until fragrant. (Tip: If you have some green onion whites, thinly slice them and sauté them with the garlic for an extra aromatic boost.)
Step 10
Add the sliced fish cakes to the pan with the fragrant garlic. Stir-fry over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes, ensuring they don’t burn. Stir-frying the fish cakes first helps to achieve a chewier texture.
Step 11
While the fish cakes are cooking, add the sliced onion to the pan. Continue to stir-fry until the onion becomes translucent.
Step 12
Once the onion is tender, add the prepared red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and green bell pepper to the pan. Stir-fry everything together until the vegetables are slightly softened but still have a slight bite.
Step 13
When all the ingredients are well combined and sautéed, pour the prepared sauce around the edges of the pan. Stir gently to coat all the ingredients evenly with the sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly and adhered to the ingredients.
Step 14
Turn off the heat. Gently fold in the sliced egg garnish you prepared earlier. The residual heat will lightly cook the egg, allowing it to meld beautifully with the other ingredients.
Step 15
Drizzle 1 Tbsp of sesame oil over the mixture. Gently toss everything together to ensure the sesame oil is evenly distributed. The nutty aroma of sesame oil adds a wonderful finish to the dish.
Step 16
Finally, sprinkle 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds over the Odeng Japchae and give it a final gentle stir. Your delicious and visually appealing dish is now ready to be served!
Step 17
Your appetizing Odeng Japchae is complete! It looks as good as it tastes, doesn’t it?
Step 18
Enjoy this delightful Odeng Japchae, which is much easier and more economical than traditional Japchae, offering a satisfying combination of chewy fish cakes, fresh vegetables, and tender egg garnish!
