Nakji-Bokkeum – Spicy Stir Fried Octopus

Name: Nakji-Bokkeum – Spicy Stir Fried Octopus (낙지볶음)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 1 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tsp Korean red chilli powder; ½ tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red chilli paste); 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red chilli paste); 1 tbsp sugar or honey; 1 tbsp sugar or honey; A sprinkle of sesame seeds; 1 tsp toasted sesame oil; 1 tsp grated fresh ginger; 2 tsp grated fresh garlic; 1 red or green chilli, thinly sliced or chopped; 1 red or green chilli, thinly sliced or chopped; 2 spring onions, cut into 2-3cm pieces; ¼ cabbage, sliced; 1 small onion, thickly sliced; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 300 g baby octopus, fresh or frozen and defrosted; 300 g baby octopus, fresh or frozen and defrosted; 300 g baby octopus, fresh or frozen and defrosted

낙지볶음

Preparation info

Serves
2

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
25 min

Appears in

Islands In A Common Sea

By Jenny Jefferies

Published 2024

About

This popular Korean dish makes octopus, one of the seafood delicacies sometimes caught by the Haenyeo, the star of the show. The savoury, spicy paste it is cooked in gives this dish an addictive flavour and bright red colour. Serve with steamed rice or your favourite accompaniment.

Ingredients

For the Stir Fry

300 g baby octopus, fresh or frozen and defrosted
1 tbsp

Europe
Asia
United Kingdom
Korea
Fish course
Pescatarian
Spicy
November

Method

If you have bought frozen octopus, it will have already been cleaned and only needs rinsing in cold water and then patting dry with kitchen paper. If you buy fresh octopus, ask your fishmonger to clean it for you or look up how to prepare it yourself online.

To make the spice paste, simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mix well and set aside.

Bring a medium saucepan of