Chewy and Flavorful Stir-fried Baby Octopus (Nakji-jeotgal)
How to Make Delicious Baby Octopus Stir-fry at Home in Just One Day
Discover how to make a perfectly seasoned, non-salty, and delightfully sweet baby octopus stir-fry, achieving that signature chewy texture in just one day! This recipe is surprisingly easy to follow, allowing anyone to create this popular Korean side dish at home. It’s a fantastic addition to any meal, especially when you need a flavor boost.
Baby Octopus Cleaning and Preparation Ingredients- 6 medium-sized frozen baby octopuses
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
Baby Octopus Marinating Ingredients- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
- 100ml Soju (half a paper cup)
Baby Octopus Stir-fry Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (e.g., Kkanari Aekjeot, or other fish sauce/salt can be substituted)
- 1 Tbsp apple syrup (adjust to taste, can substitute with any fruit syrup or corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
Vegetable Ingredients for Baby Octopus Stir-fry- 200g daikon radish
- A small amount of red chili pepper
- 20g scallions
- A small amount of green chili pepper
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
- 100ml Soju (half a paper cup)
Baby Octopus Stir-fry Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (e.g., Kkanari Aekjeot, or other fish sauce/salt can be substituted)
- 1 Tbsp apple syrup (adjust to taste, can substitute with any fruit syrup or corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
Vegetable Ingredients for Baby Octopus Stir-fry- 200g daikon radish
- A small amount of red chili pepper
- 20g scallions
- A small amount of green chili pepper
- 200g daikon radish
- A small amount of red chili pepper
- 20g scallions
- A small amount of green chili pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
① First, let’s prepare the baby octopus. We’re using six medium-sized frozen baby octopuses. It’s best to thaw frozen baby octopus slowly in the refrigerator. Thawing at room temperature can cause the color to change and the texture to degrade. Turn the octopus head inside out and carefully remove the internal organs. When removing the head, it can be slippery, so wearing cotton gloves is recommended. Discard the removed internal organs. Rinse the cleaned octopuses once under running water. To remove any remaining impurities and firm up the tentacles, rub them with 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt. This process also helps to make the tentacles delightfully chewy. After rubbing, rinse thoroughly several times, soak in saltwater for 10 minutes, then drain in a colander.
Step 2
② Now, cut the cleaned baby octopus into bite-sized pieces. It’s better to cut them into shorter lengths, rather than long ones, so the seasoning penetrates evenly and the flavor is enhanced. The tentacles should be firm enough to cut easily. The heads are also delicious and chewy, so slice them thinly. It’s advisable to remove the eyes, as they can burst and affect the appearance. Place the cut baby octopus in a bowl and add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt and 100ml of soju (half a paper cup). Gently massage the ingredients into the octopus. This salting process helps to firm up the octopus. Rinse the octopus again thoroughly after massaging. Drain the rinsed octopus in a sieve, ensuring all excess water is removed. It’s crucial to remove as much water as possible to prevent spoilage during the marinating process. Now, let’s marinate the octopus for aging. To the drained octopus, add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt and 100ml of soju (half a paper cup). Mix well to ensure the salt and soju are evenly distributed. Place the marinated octopus in an airtight container and refrigerate for one day to marinate.
Step 3
③ Let’s check on the marinated octopus. After a day, you’ll notice that the color hasn’t changed, and it has marinated beautifully and cleanly. Now it’s time to season it. We need to drain off any excess liquid. If you season it directly with liquid, the dish might become mushy. So, drain it in a colander for about 10 minutes to remove more moisture.
Step 4
④ Meanwhile, let’s prepare the vegetables for the baby octopus stir-fry. You’ll need: 200g daikon radish, a little red chili pepper, 20g scallions, and a little green chili pepper. First, thinly slice the 200g of daikon radish to match the thickness of the octopus. Slicing it thinly will help it absorb the flavors well. To remove moisture from the radish, sprinkle a little coarse sea salt and sugar over it and let it sit for 30 minutes. The osmotic pressure will draw out the moisture. Gently massage the radish to help release more water. Slice the scallions into 2-3cm lengths. Remove the seeds from the red and green chili peppers and slice them thinly. Prepare your vegetables like this.
Step 5
⑤ Now, let’s make the seasoning for the baby octopus stir-fry. The seasoning ingredients are: 200g of drained daikon radish, 2 Tbsp minced garlic, 2 Tbsp fish sauce, 1 Tbsp apple syrup (adjust to taste, you can add more), 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds, the prepared vegetables, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 2 Tbsp sesame oil. First, add the thoroughly squeezed daikon radish to a mixing bowl. Squeeze out as much water as possible from the radish to ensure the stir-fry isn’t watery and tastes delicious. Next, add a generous 2 Tbsp of minced garlic. (You can also add 100g of gochugaru, Korean chili flakes, at this stage for a spicier dish). Add 2 Tbsp of fish sauce for seasoning. You can substitute this with other types of fish sauce or use salt. Add 1 Tbsp of apple syrup to remove any unpleasant odors and add a subtle sweetness. This can be replaced with any fruit syrup or corn syrup. Add 2 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds for a nutty flavor. First, mix all these ingredients lightly and let them sit for 20 minutes. This allows the gochugaru to hydrate and the flavors to meld. After 20 minutes, add 1/4 tsp of black pepper to eliminate any gamey or fishy odors. Since we only added 1 Tbsp of apple syrup initially, taste it now and add more if desired. (Alternatively, you can add 2 Tbsp from the start). Mix everything well again, then add all the prepared vegetables and mix thoroughly. Finally, drizzle in 2 Tbsp of sesame oil and give it a final mix to finish. For octopus stir-fry, we recommend cutting it into smaller pieces and enjoying it fresh. Your delicious baby octopus stir-fry is ready! Thank you for watching. If our recipe video was helpful, please don’t forget to subscribe, like, and turn on notifications!
