Tender and Chewy Stir-fried Octopus Hot Pot & Fried Rice
Recipe for Refreshing Octopus Hot Pot and Spicy Octopus Iron Plate Fried Rice
A perfect dish to boost your stamina when you lack appetite! Using fresh, seasonal octopus from spring, enjoy the wonderfully chewy and delightfully crisp texture in this octopus hot pot, followed by a sweet and spicy octopus fried rice. Recommended as a weekend special for the whole family to enjoy. It’s a true rice thief!
Hot Pot Ingredients- 4 medium-sized octopuses
- 1 onion
- 2 handfuls of bean sprouts
- 1 cup of sea squirts (omandungi)
Octopus Seasoning- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- A pinch of ginger, minced
- 1.5 Tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp maesilcheong (Korean plum syrup)
- A pinch of black pepper
- A pinch of salt
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- A pinch of ginger, minced
- 1.5 Tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp maesilcheong (Korean plum syrup)
- A pinch of black pepper
- A pinch of salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the octopus. Place the medium-sized octopuses in a clean bowl. Use scissors to remove the eyes. Turn the head inside out and thoroughly clean out any internal organs. Set aside the white stomach part. Add flour to the octopus and rub it vigorously to wash away any mud or impurities from the suckers. Rinse thoroughly under running water, then add more flour and gently knead and rub again to ensure it’s perfectly clean.
Step 2
Cut the cleaned octopus into bite-sized pieces. Place the cut octopus in a bowl and add all the prepared seasoning ingredients (gochujang, gochugaru, minced ginger, minced garlic, maesilcheong, pepper, salt). Gently mix everything together, ensuring the seasoning coats the octopus evenly, and let it marinate.
Step 3
While the octopus is marinating, peel and thinly slice the onion. Rinse the bean sprouts and drain them well. Rinse the sea squirts under cold water and prepare them. (If sea squirts are unavailable, you can omit them or substitute with other seafood.)
Step 4
If you have frozen corn, try adding it to your rice for a delicious corn rice. Measure the water for your rice as usual, add the corn, and cook. This will result in a fragrant and tasty corn rice. (This step is optional.)
Step 5
In a wide pot or a large pan (like a pot lid), layer the prepared bean sprouts at the bottom. Arrange the marinated octopus, sliced onions, and sea squirts on top. Add just enough water to cover the ingredients slightly. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the ingredients are tender. The broth will be refreshingly savory from the bean sprouts and seafood.
Step 6
Octopus can become tough if overcooked, so it’s best to remove it from the pot as soon as it’s cooked through and enjoy it first. Sea squirts can be cooked a little longer, so after removing the octopus, let the sea squirts simmer for a bit more. The combination of tender octopus, crisp bean sprouts, and briny sea squirts is truly wonderful. Freshness is paramount in seafood dishes, so using the freshest ingredients will yield the best flavor.
Step 7
After enjoying the hot pot, add rice to the remaining broth. You can also add more vegetables (like onions and bean sprouts) and stir-fry it into a delicious fried rice. For an extra flavor boost, you can add finely chopped kimchi, or drizzle a little perilla oil or sesame oil before stir-frying. Sprinkle with toasted seaweed flakes for an even more delightful finish. It’s a perfect and satisfying meal!
