Crispy and Spicy Stir-fried Dried Shrimp: Simple Side Dish & Beer Snack
Stir-fried Dried Shrimp Recipe with a Special Touch of Spicy Gochugaru: A Rice-Stealing Side Dish and Perfect Beer Snack
This recipe adds gochugaru (Korean chili powder) to the common soy sauce-based dried shrimp stir-fry, offering a unique spicy kick. While delicious on its own, you can enhance it with ingredients like nuts, garlic scapes, or minced garlic according to your preference. The savory and sweet flavors, complemented by a hint of spice, make it an excellent side dish for rice or a perfect snack to pair with cold beer.
Main Ingredients- 100g dried shrimp
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- 2 Tbsp Cheongju (rice wine) (or 2 Tbsp water)
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide
- A pinch of sesame seeds (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 100g of dried shrimp. To remove any small debris or powder that might be attached, sift the dried shrimp through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure they are clean. This step helps in cooking a cleaner dish without impurities.
Step 2
In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp gochugaru, and 2 Tbsp Cheongju. Mix well to create the seasoning sauce. If Cheongju is unavailable, you can omit it, but adding 2 Tbsp of water instead can help prevent the sauce from becoming too thick and can also neutralize any fishy odor from the shrimp.
Step 3
Place a dry pan over low heat (do not preheat) and stir-fry the dried shrimp alone. This process helps to remove any lingering fishy smell and excess moisture, making the shrimp crispier.
Step 4
Once the dried shrimp are lightly stir-fried, add 3 Tbsp of cooking oil and stir-fry quickly over medium-low heat. Be careful not to burn the shrimp. If you prefer an even crispier texture, you can add an extra 1-2 Tbsp of cooking oil.
Step 5
After the dried shrimp have turned a light golden brown, pour in the prepared seasoning sauce and stir-fry quickly over low heat. It’s crucial to keep stirring to prevent the sauce from burning and to ensure it coats the shrimp evenly.
Step 6
Once the sauce has well coated the dried shrimp, turn off the heat. Add 2 Tbsp of oligosaccharide and a pinch of sesame seeds (optional), stirring well with the residual heat. This adds shine, sweetness, and a hint of nuttiness. Your delicious stir-fried dried shrimp are now ready! It’s an attractive dish with a crispy texture, savory-sweet taste, and the added spicy note from the gochugaru.
Step 7
While a typical soy sauce-based dried shrimp stir-fry primarily offers savory and sweet flavors, adding gochugaru introduces a unique aroma and a more complex, layered taste.
Step 8
Although delicious when stir-fried with added ingredients like garlic scapes or nuts, this version with just dried shrimp is satisfyingly savory and crispy on its own. This stir-fried dried shrimp serves as an excellent side dish and is also a perfect accompaniment to a cold beer. Its non-salty nature makes it a tempting side dish or snack that you’ll keep reaching for.
