Sweet & Savory Sausage and Vegetable Stir-Fry with Oyster Sauce
Easy and Delicious Sausage and Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe with an Oyster Sauce Glaze
After buying a large pack of sausages, I decided to make a delicious sausage and vegetable stir-fry, often called ‘Ssoya Bokkeum’ in Korean. While the classic ketchup and gochujang (red chili paste) combination is always tasty, I sometimes find the sauce doesn’t coat the vegetables like bell peppers as well as I’d like. Plus, my younger child is quite sensitive to spice, so this time, I opted for a sweet and savory flavor profile using soy sauce and oyster sauce. This recipe creates a delightful balance of salty, sweet, and umami flavors that’s perfect for a side dish that will have everyone reaching for more rice!
Main Ingredients- Vienna sausages, 2 handfuls (approx. 200g)
- Red bell pepper, 1/4
- Yellow bell pepper, 1/4
- Orange bell pepper, 1/4
- Onion, 1/2
- Scallion (green onion), 1/2 stalk
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the fresh vegetables for your sausage stir-fry. Peel half an onion and dice it into approximately 1.5cm cubes. Remove the seeds from the bell peppers and dice them into similar-sized pieces as the onion. Slice the scallion into large pieces, focusing on the white parts.
Step 2
Next, prepare the star of our dish: the Vienna sausages. If you have sausages that are already scored, that’s perfect – the sauce will penetrate better. If not, you can lightly blanch them in boiling water and then make diagonal scores with a knife.
Step 3
Take a spacious pan and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Once the pan is heated, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Over medium-low heat, slowly stir-fry the garlic until it becomes fragrant, creating a flavorful garlic oil. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 4
Once the aromatic garlic oil is ready, add the prepared Vienna sausages to the pan. Stir-fry them over medium heat until they turn golden brown and slightly crispy. This browning adds a wonderful texture and flavor.
Step 5
When the sausages are nicely browned, add all the diced onion and bell peppers to the pan. Stir-fry them together with the sausages. Cooking over high heat for a short time will help maintain the vegetables’ crispness.
Step 6
Using chopsticks or a spatula, stir everything together to ensure the vegetables and sausages are well combined. Continue to stir-fry until the vegetables become slightly translucent and are evenly mixed with the sausages.
Step 7
Once all the ingredients are well mixed, push them to one side of the pan. Pour 1 tablespoon of soy sauce into the empty space. Let it bubble slightly against the hot pan; this caramelization adds a deeper layer of flavor. Quickly stir everything together to coat.
Step 8
After the soy sauce has infused its aroma, add 0.5 tablespoon of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of oligosaccharide (or your preferred sweetener like corn syrup or honey). Stir-fry quickly to ensure the sauce is evenly distributed. The oyster sauce adds umami, while the sweetener brings gloss and a touch of sweetness.
Step 9
When the sauce has evenly coated all the ingredients and the vegetables are cooked to your liking, just before turning off the heat, drizzle in a bit of sesame oil and sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds for extra aroma. (Caution: too many sesame seeds can sometimes impart a slightly bitter taste, so use a moderate amount.)
Step 10
Oops! I added a bit too many sesame seeds and almost spilled them. Be sure to use a moderate amount! (Careful not to spill!)
Step 11
Finally, gently mix all the ingredients together. Your delicious sweet and savory Ssoya Bokkeum, or sausage and vegetable stir-fry, is now complete! It looks wonderfully glossy and appetizing.
Step 12
The combination of crisp stir-fried bell peppers and onions with the savory and sweet sausages is truly exceptional. Thanks to the oyster sauce, the vegetables gain a deep umami flavor, making this a perfect side dish for rice.
Step 13
Initially, I was a little surprised by the abundance of sesame seeds, but it ultimately contributed to a richer and more robust flavor. Each bite is filled with a delightful nutty taste.
Step 14
This soy sauce and oyster sauce combination creates a sweet and savory profile that my younger child, who is sensitive to spice, absolutely loves. It has become a fantastic side dish that pairs perfectly with rice, making it a winner for the whole family!
