Stir-Fried Bracken Fern with Savory & Spicy Seasoning
A Quick and Delicious Bracken Fern Side Dish Recipe Using Leftover Yukgaejang Ingredients
Do you have leftover bracken fern from making Yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) stored in your freezer? Don’t worry! With a simple seasoning, you can create a delicious side dish that will make you want to finish a whole bowl of rice. The harmony of the spicy and sweet seasoning with the chewy bracken fern is exceptional.
Main Ingredients- 3 handfuls of frozen bracken fern (approx. 300g)
- 2 Cheongyang peppers
- 1 stalk of green onion
Seasoning for Bracken Fern- 5 Tbsp soy sauce (Korean soup soy sauce or regular soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp cooking syrup (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2/3 cup water (standard paper cup)
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (for finishing)
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce (Korean soup soy sauce or regular soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp cooking syrup (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2/3 cup water (standard paper cup)
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (for finishing)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thaw the frozen bracken fern by soaking it in cold water. If you are using pre-cooked bracken fern, you can use it immediately. If you are using dried bracken fern, soak it until softened and then boil it before preparation.
Step 2
Cut the thawed bracken fern into bite-sized pieces (about 3-4 cm in length). If they are too long, they can be difficult to eat.
Step 3
Place the cut bracken fern in a large bowl. Add all the seasoning ingredients (5 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp cooking syrup, 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 2 Tbsp perilla oil, 1 Tbsp minced garlic). Gently mix the ingredients with your hands, ensuring the seasoning coats the bracken fern evenly. Let it marinate for about 1 hour. This marination process allows the flavors to penetrate deeply into the bracken fern, making it much tastier.
Step 4
After 1 hour, when the seasoning has well penetrated the bracken fern, begin stir-frying. Heat a medium-sized pot or pan and add the marinated bracken fern.
Step 5
Prepare the additional ingredients: finely chop the Cheongyang peppers and slice the green onion (separating the white and green parts). You can adjust the amount of Cheongyang pepper to your preference or omit it if desired.
Step 6
Once the bracken fern starts to cook, pour in about 2/3 cup of water (using a standard paper cup). Keep the heat at medium and let it simmer. Adding water and simmering helps to soften the bracken fern and allows the seasoning to be absorbed thoroughly.
Step 7
Simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the water has reduced to a simmer. When the liquid has reduced considerably, add the chopped Cheongyang peppers and green onions and stir-fry them together. At this stage, taste the dish and add a pinch of salt if it needs more seasoning.
Step 8
If you prefer a moister consistency for your stir-fried bracken fern, turn off the heat while there is still a little liquid remaining. Finally, drizzle with 1 Tbsp of perilla oil and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp of sesame seeds. Mix well to complete this delicious bracken fern side dish. It’s also wonderful served over a bowl of warm rice!
