Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Octopus (Nakji Bokkeum) Golden Recipe
A Restaurant-Quality Spicy Octopus Stir-fry You Can Make at Home!
I’m sharing a stir-fried octopus recipe that turned out so incredibly delicious, I was shocked it tasted just like my favorite go-to chewy octopus restaurant! They serve it with various seasoned vegetables for bibimbap, and honestly, I don’t think I need to visit them anymore. The ultimate secret? Sautéing the onions until they are slightly charred. This process unlocks a wonderful smoky flavor and brings out the natural sweetness of the onions, creating an unparalleled taste. Enjoy a wonderful meal today!
Main Ingredients
- 2 cleaned octopuses
- A bit of green onion
- 1 onion
Seasoning Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Heat some cooking oil in a pan. Before the oil gets too hot, add the chopped green onions and sauté them on low heat to create fragrant green onion oil. This step significantly deepens the dish’s flavor.
Step 2
Once the green onion oil is ready, add the sliced onion and stir-fry over medium heat. Continue to cook the onion until it’s slightly charred and has a brownish hue. This technique infuses the dish with a wonderful smoky aroma and the natural sweetness of the onion, making the octopus stir-fry exceptionally delicious.
Step 3
Now, add the cleaned octopus to the pan and stir-fry. If you find preparing octopus challenging, using pre-cut, cleaned octopus is a great shortcut. Cook the octopus just until it’s no longer translucent and is tender – avoid overcooking, as it can become tough.
Step 4
Prepare the seasoning mixture: combine 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp sugar, and 1 Tbsp minced garlic in a small bowl. Add this mixture to the pan with the octopus and vegetables, and toss everything together thoroughly to coat.
Step 5
Since this dish is meant to be mixed with noodles or rice, we want a thick sauce. Continue to stir-fry over medium-low heat, allowing the sauce to reduce and thicken. Ensure the seasoning is well absorbed by the ingredients.
Step 6
Finally, transfer the delicious spicy octopus stir-fry to a serving dish and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Enjoy your flavorful meal!
