Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Pork Belly and Baby Octopus
Recommended Spicy and Sweet Pork Belly and Baby Octopus Stir-Fry for a Late-Night Snack
A fantastic combination of chewy baby octopus and savory pork belly! When you’re craving something spicy and flavorful, stressed out, or looking for a perfect snack with drinks, try making this delicious Spicy and Sweet Pork Belly and Baby Octopus Stir-Fry at home. It’s also a great side dish for rice.
Main Ingredients- Baby Octopus (1 pack, approx. 300g)
- Pork Belly (200g)
- Carrot (1/4)
- Onion (1/2)
- Green Onion (1/2 stalk)
- Red Chili Pepper (1, or 1 Cheongyang chili pepper, to taste)
Seasoning Sauce- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 3.5 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Sugar 0.5 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Oligosaccharide 2.5 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Minced Garlic 2 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Soy Sauce 2 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Fish Sauce (anchovy) 1 Tbsp (using a rice spoon, or regular soy sauce if unavailable)
- Sesame Oil, a drizzle (for finishing)
- Sesame Seeds, a pinch (for finishing)
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 2 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 3.5 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Sugar 0.5 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Oligosaccharide 2.5 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Minced Garlic 2 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Soy Sauce 2 Tbsp (using a rice spoon)
- Fish Sauce (anchovy) 1 Tbsp (using a rice spoon, or regular soy sauce if unavailable)
- Sesame Oil, a drizzle (for finishing)
- Sesame Seeds, a pinch (for finishing)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the soybean sprouts, which are a delicious accompaniment to the stir-fried baby octopus. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the soybean sprouts, and blanch them for just 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them, as they’ll lose their crispiness. Drain the blanched sprouts in a colander and set aside.
Step 2
Clean the baby octopus thoroughly. Then, blanch them in boiling water for about 1 minute. Rinse them under cold water and drain. This blanching step helps to tenderize the baby octopus and remove any impurities. Avoid boiling for too long, as it can make them tough. A quick blanch is key.
Step 3
Let’s make the spicy and sweet seasoning sauce! In a bowl, combine Gochujang (2 Tbsp), Gochugaru (3.5 Tbsp), Sugar (0.5 Tbsp), Oligosaccharide (2.5 Tbsp), Minced Garlic (2 Tbsp), Soy Sauce (2 Tbsp), and Fish Sauce (1 Tbsp). Mix well. Using a rice spoon for measurement makes it easy. (We’ll add sesame oil and sesame seeds at the end.)
Step 4
Now it’s time to stir-fry the pork belly. Heat a pan over medium heat and add the pork belly, cut into bite-sized pieces. Cook until it’s lightly browned and slightly crispy. The pork belly will render enough fat, so you don’t need to add extra oil. You can remove the cooked pork belly to a plate temporarily if you prefer.
Step 5
In the same pan where you cooked the pork belly, add all the prepared vegetables: carrots, onions, green onions, and red chili peppers (or Cheongyang chili peppers), all cut into bite-sized pieces. Stir-fry over high heat quickly. You want the vegetables to be slightly tender but still retain some crispiness.
Step 6
Once the vegetables are partially stir-fried, add the blanched baby octopus to the pan and stir-fry them together. Be careful not to overcook the baby octopus; it should be tender, not rubbery.
Step 7
Now, add all the prepared seasoning sauce to the pan. Stir and coat the baby octopus, vegetables, and pork belly evenly with the sauce. Cook while stirring to prevent the sauce from burning. Adjust the heat as needed.
Step 8
Finally, drizzle a little sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds to finish. Give it a quick stir to combine all the ingredients well. Your delicious Spicy and Sweet Pork Belly and Baby Octopus Stir-Fry is ready! Enjoy it with warm rice, or serve it with somen noodles or jjolmyeon for a more substantial meal.
