Pork and Fish Cake Stir-fry: A Perfect Harmony of Chewy Fish Cakes and Tender Pork
Reviving Your Refrigerator! A Delicious Side Dish Made with Stir-fried Pork and Fish Cakes
One day, I took out some thinly sliced pork meant for Japchae, a dish I’d forgotten I had bought, and it had been frozen. Since I couldn’t keep it frozen forever, I decided to take it out. While rummaging through the fridge for something to make with it, I spotted a package of fish cakes. ‘Could they be stir-fried together?’ I wondered. With no other side dishes ready, I decided to try making a pork and fish cake stir-fry. Here’s a delicious dish featuring the surprisingly delightful combination of chewy fish cakes and tender pork!
Main Ingredients- 2 sheets (approx. 150g) of square fish cakes
- 100g thinly sliced pork (for Japchae)
- 1/4 onion
- 1/8 carrot
- 2-3 stalks of green onions
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Heat 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan over low heat. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry gently until it turns golden brown and releases its fragrant aroma, creating garlic-infused oil. Be careful not to burn it; stirring over low heat is key to infusing the oil properly.
Step 2
If using frozen pork, thaw it beforehand and gently pat dry any excess liquid with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine the thawed pork with 1 tablespoon of cooking wine and a pinch of black pepper. Mix well to tenderize the meat and eliminate any gamey odor. Add the marinated pork to the pan with the garlic oil and stir-fry over medium heat. Use chopsticks or a similar utensil to break up any clumps and cook until the pork is fully done.
Step 3
Slice the fish cakes into bite-sized pieces, about 1 cm wide, and set aside. Thinly slice the onion and shred the carrot into similar strips. Chop the green onions finely for garnish.
Step 4
Add the prepared fish cakes, sliced onion, and shredded carrot to the pan with the cooked pork. Pour in 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, which acts as a versatile flavor enhancer, and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce for seasoning. Oyster sauce adds umami, while soy sauce balances the overall flavor. Stir-fry over high heat until all ingredients are well combined.
Step 5
Once the onions start to soften and the ingredients have melded together, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of perilla oil for an extra nutty aroma that elevates the dish. Finally, sprinkle generously with sesame seeds to taste. Your delicious pork and fish cake stir-fry is ready! While it’s tasty served immediately, it also develops deeper flavors if allowed to cool slightly before serving as a side dish.
