Spicy and Sweet Seasoned Fish Cakes (Eomuk Muchim)
How to Make Delicious Eomuk Muchim (Seasoned Fish Cakes)
A staple side dish inspired by Chungmu Gimbap! These chewy fish cakes are coated in a perfectly balanced spicy and sweet sauce, making them a crowd-pleasing favorite for all ages. Excellent as a make-ahead banchan (Korean side dish).
Main Ingredients- 4 sheets of flat fish cakes (Eomuk)
Seasoning- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Tuna Extract (or Fish Sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 1.5 Tbsp Oligodang (Corn Syrup or Honey)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract (or Mirin)
- Sesame Seeds, to taste
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Tuna Extract (or Fish Sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 1.5 Tbsp Oligodang (Corn Syrup or Honey)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract (or Mirin)
- Sesame Seeds, to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the flat fish cakes. Briefly blanch them in boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. This step helps remove any impurities and enhances their chewy texture. Immediately rinse the blanched fish cakes under cold water to stop the cooking and drain them thoroughly by squeezing out excess water.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the delicious seasoning. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, tuna extract, minced garlic, gochugaru, oligodang, sesame oil, and plum extract.
Step 3
Whisk all the seasoning ingredients together thoroughly with a spoon or whisk until well combined and smooth. Ensure there are no clumps.
Step 4
Cut the prepared fish cakes into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm wide. This size is ideal for absorbing the sauce without becoming too small or too large. Add the cut fish cakes to the bowl with the prepared seasoning.
Step 5
Gently toss and mix the fish cakes with the seasoning using your hands or a spoon. Massaging the seasoning into the fish cakes helps them absorb the flavors better. Be gentle to avoid tearing the fish cakes. Continue mixing for about 1-2 minutes until evenly coated.
Step 6
Finally, sprinkle with sesame seeds for added aroma and transfer to a serving dish. While it’s delicious to eat immediately, refrigerating it for a short while will allow the flavors to meld even further.
