Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Baby Octopus with Pork Belly
Master the Perfect Balance: Easy 5-Step Baby Octopus and Pork Belly Stir-fry
Utilize your leftover baby octopus and pork belly to create a hearty and delicious meal! The sweet and spicy sauce maximizes the synergy between the chewy baby octopus and savory pork belly, making it an irresistible dish that will have you reaching for more rice.
Main Ingredients
- 5 cleaned baby octopuses (approx. 200-250g)
- 1/2 lb thick-cut pork belly (approx. 300g)
- 1 large onion
- 1/2 large green onion (sliced diagonally)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Spicy & Sweet Sauce Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp coarse gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp coarse gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the 5 cleaned baby octopuses and blanch for about 1-2 minutes, until they are about half-cooked. Avoid overcooking, as this can make them tough. Once their color brightens and they are partially cooked, remove them, rinse under cold water, drain, and set aside. This step helps maintain their chewy texture.
Step 2
In a bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients: 3 Tbsp gochujang, 3 Tbsp coarse gochugaru, 2 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp mirin, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp minced garlic. Mix thoroughly until there are no lumps to create a delicious, well-balanced sauce. This sauce is key to the dish’s flavor.
Step 3
Place the thick-cut pork belly slices in a pan and cook over medium heat until golden brown on both sides, about halfway done. Once partially cooked, cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces (about 3-4 cm). Searing the pork belly beforehand helps lock in its juices when stir-frying with the octopus.
Step 4
Add the thinly sliced onion to the pan with the cooking pork belly and stir-fry until the onion becomes translucent. Once the onion is softened, add all of the prepared spicy and sweet sauce. Stir well to coat the pork belly and onion evenly with the sauce. Maintain medium heat and be careful not to burn the sauce.
Step 5
Now, add the blanched baby octopus and the diagonally sliced green onions to the pan. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, just until the octopus is well coated in the sauce. Be mindful not to overcook, as the octopus can become tough. Stir-frying briefly will keep the green onions fragrant and slightly crisp.
Step 6
Finally, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and give everything a gentle mix. Your delicious Stir-fried Baby Octopus with Pork Belly is now complete! Serve it over hot rice for a delightful meal, or enjoy it as a wrap with fresh lettuce. It’s the perfect dish for when you’re craving something exciting!
