Sweet and Sour Shrimp (Gansho Saeu): A Delectable Stir-fry with a Tangy Kick
How to Make Gansho Saeu like Chef Baek Jong-won: Perfecting Sweet and Sour Shrimp, Gansho Saeu Sauce, and Shrimp Dishes
Having a pack of frozen shrimp in your freezer is incredibly useful for various dishes. Today, I’ve brought out those frozen shrimp to create a delicious stir-fry: Gansho Saeu! Gansho Saeu is a stir-fried dish characterized by its appealing sweet, sour, and delightfully sugary sauce. This flavorful sauce makes it a fantastic appetizer for drinks or a wonderful side dish for rice. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients- 15 frozen shrimp (thawed and patted dry)
- 10cm leek (chopped)
- 1/2 onion (sliced into strips)
- 5cm carrot (sliced into strips)
- 2 shiitake mushrooms (sliced into strips)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Cooking oil, as needed
Sauce Ingredients- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 4 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 pinches salt
- 2 pinches black pepper
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 4 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 pinches salt
- 2 pinches black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 15 frozen shrimp. Thaw the shrimp under cold running water or by soaking them in cold water. Once thawed, pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture is crucial to prevent oil splattering during cooking and to ensure a better texture for the shrimp.
Step 2
Next, let’s prepare the vegetables. Chop the leek into 10cm lengths and slice the half onion into strips. Slice the 5cm carrot and the 2 shiitake mushrooms into similar-sized strips. Cutting the vegetables to a consistent thickness will help them cook evenly.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to make the delicious sauce that defines Gansho Saeu! In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 4 Tbsp ketchup, 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin), 1 Tbsp vinegar, and 1/2 Tbsp sugar. Whisk everything together until well combined. Finally, add 1 Tbsp sesame oil and 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds for extra aroma and flavor. Your flavorful Gansho Saeu sauce is ready!
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Start by stir-frying the sliced leeks and onions. Add 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic along with the vegetables to enhance their aroma. Sauté until the leeks and onions become translucent, stirring occasionally. This process helps to bring out the natural sweetness of the vegetables.
Step 5
Once the aromatics begin to soften, add the julienned carrots and shiitake mushrooms to the pan. To season the vegetables lightly, add 2 pinches of salt and 2 pinches of black pepper. Continue to stir-fry for a little while longer to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 6
As the vegetables start to cook, add the drained shrimp to the pan. Stir-fry over medium-low heat until the shrimp turn pink and are fully cooked through. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, as they can become tough if subjected to high heat for too long.
Step 7
Once the shrimp are cooked, pour the prepared Gansho Saeu sauce into the pan. Reduce the heat to low and quickly toss everything together to ensure the sauce evenly coats the shrimp and vegetables. Continue to stir-fry until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the ingredients with a glossy sheen, creating a visually appealing dish.
Step 8
And there you have it – Chef Baek Jong-won’s Gansho Saeu, boasting a delightful balance of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors! The plump, juicy texture of the shrimp combined with the savory-sweet sauce is truly exquisite. What’s remarkable is that most of these sauce ingredients are common pantry staples! It’s truly a ‘Baek Jong-won magic’ that you can create such a rich and complex flavor without special ingredients. Doesn’t it just look like the perfect companion to a cold beer? This shrimp dish is ideal as both a delightful snack with drinks and a satisfying meal with rice. So, grab those frozen shrimp from your freezer and easily create a wonderful meal that’s sure to impress!
