Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 2 votes

Jun 19, 2022

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Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) is an extremely popular side dish served at Korean restaurants and Korean BBQ as a side dish, or banchan. It’s one of my favorite side dishes to get at Korean BBQ and I’m always finding myself asking for more!

The fish cakes are made from pureed fish, and are meaty and delicious stir fried with vegetables and a sweet and savory sauce. The dish itself is extremely easy to make and only takes a few minutes to put together for a delicious side dish!

Watch the Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake Recipe Video Below!

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (2)

Ingredients for Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake

This quick and delicious stir-fried fish cake recipe is extremely easy to make! You only need a few ingredients for the stir fry and to make the sauce. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Fish Cake
  • White Onion
  • Garlic
  • Scallion
  • Carrot
  • Light Soy Sauce
  • Mirin
  • Sugar
  • Black Pepper
  • Sesame Seeds
Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (3)

My Top Ingredient Tips for Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cakes

INGREDIENTS TIPS

VEGETABLES
I used carrots and onions here, but you could also add bell peppers, jalapenos, or birds eye chilis if you prefer extra heat.

SPICY VERSION
If you prefer a spicer version, feel free to add 1 tbsp of gochujang to the sauce! I opted for a sweet and savory version for this recipe.

Prepare Your Fish Cakes, Vegetables, and Sauce

The first (and most important) ingredient for this recipe? You guessed it – fish cakes! You can find fish cakes in any Asian grocery and they are usually sold in sheets like this. I typically find these fish cake sheets in the refrigerated section near the tofu at my local H-Mart.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (4)

Slice the Fish Cakes

I like to begin by slicing the fish cake sheet in half length wise down the middle. Next, cut them into roughly 2 inch strips.

I prefer 2 inch wide strips, but you could cut them according to your preference. No matter what you prefer, make sure the strips are equally sized so they cook evenly in the pan.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (5)

Prepare the Vegetables

Once the fish cakes are sliced, place them in a bowl and finish preparing the rest of your vegetables. Finely mince 3 cloves of garlic, then cut your carrots into 2″ long matchsticks, thinly slice your white onion, and cut the scallions into 2″ pieces.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (6)

Mix the sauce

Once the fish cakes and vegetables are prepared, it’s time to mix your sauce! In a small bowl, whisk together light soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and black pepper.

If you prefer a spicy version of these stir-fried fish cakes, you can optionally add 1 tablespoon of gochujang to this mixture.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (7)

Stir-Fry the Fish Cakes and Vegetables

To make the dish, begin by heating 2 tablespoons of oil over medium high heat in a non-stick pan. Saute garlic along with the scallions, carrots, and onions for 1 minute until the vegetables have softened.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (8)

Once the vegetables have softened, add the sliced fish cakes and stir fry for another minute. You want the fish cakes so also soften and pick up some of the oil, and cook them until they begin to take on some color.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (9)

After the vegetables and fish cakes have stir-fried for a few minutes, it’s time to add the sauce you mixed earlier. Combine the sauce with the fish cakes and vegetables, then continue cooking over medium high heat until the sauce has been fully absorbed.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (10)

Transfer the fish cakes and vegetables to a bowl and top with sesame seeds! Your stir-fried fish cakes are now ready to enjoy!

My Key Recipe Tips for Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cakes

RECIPE TIPS

SHAPE/SIZE
I personally like to cut these into 2″ strips – however, you have probably seen them in many iterations! Feel free to cut them to your preference, but ensure that they are cut the same size to ensure even cooking.

SUCCESS IS IN THE PREP
Once you start cooking, this recipe will come together very quickly. The key to pulling this off successfully is having all of your ingredients prepped and in bowls right next to pan! Have your premixed sauce, fish cakes, and vegetables ready and easily accessible during the cooking process.

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (11)

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum)

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 3

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

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Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (12)

This Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake is a popular side dish served at Korean restaurants and extremely easy to prepare at home!

Ingredients

  • 12 oz fish cake, cut to 2" long strips
  • 1/4 onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 scallion, cut to 2" pieces
  • 1 carrot, cut to 2" matchsticks
  • 3.5 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • 1/2 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Cut fish cake into 2" long strips and slice the vegetables and set aside.

  • In a small bowl, mix together light soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and black pepper.

  • Heat 2 tbsp of neutral oil in a non-stick pan over medium high heat. Add the garlic, onion, scallions, and carrot and stir fry for 1 minute until softened.

  • Add the sliced fish cake and stir-fry for 1 minute. Immediately add the premixed sauce and stir to combine.

  • Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the sauce has absorbed. Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy!

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Korean

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (13)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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Korean Stir-Fried Fish Cake (Eomuk Bokkeum) - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What fish is eomuk made of? ›

In South Korea, fishcakes are called eomuk (어묵), or odeng (오뎅), which is a loan word from the Japanese stew oden). Fish cakes are mainly made of corvina or cuttlefish which contains less fat. This is because fatty fish are not suitable for making fishcakes.

How long do Korean fish cakes last in the fridge? ›

Can you store the spicy fish cake stir-fry? Since Eomuk Bokkeum is a stir-fried dish with a spicy sauce, it can last in the fridge longer than other side dishes. But I would say no more than 4 days. If you see the texture change from chewy to very soft, it's best to discard it.

What is fish cake made of in Korean? ›

What is a Korean Fish Cake? A Korean Fish Cake is a combination of minced fish fillets mixed with vegetables and seasonings. It is a quick snack and also a side dish in authentic Korean cuisine.

Are Korean fish cakes already cooked? ›

Since they're already pre-cooked, you don't need to prepare them separately. Yay for easy one-pot meals! You can even toss frozen pieces straight into boiling water; they should cook as fast as the noodles.

What is the best Korean fish cake brand? ›

Busan is widely known for producing Korea's best fish cake by using fresh, native Korean ingredients caught off the Korean coast. Established in 1953, for three generations, Samjin Fish Cake Company has been making a variety of good quality and healthy fish cake products and has become the household name.

What is eomuk made of? ›

Eomuk (어묵) is processed seafood made with pureed fish. It translates to fish cake, but obviously not the fish cake known in Western cooking. There are various dishes made with eomuk, including Eomuk soup which is hugely popular as street foods in Korea.

Do Korean fish cakes go bad? ›

Store-bought, unopened fish cakes typically last for about a week past the printed date on the package. Once opened, they should be consumed within 2 to 3 days. If frozen, they will last for about 6 months.

Is Korean fish cake healthy? ›

Is Korean Fish Cake Healthy? Fish Cakes (Odeng) can be healthy food if it's made with high-quality fish meat with not too many fillers and deep fried in clean oil. Lesser quality ones could be deep fried in oil that's been overused and you may be able to smell a bit of rancid oil which may not be healthy.

Is it OK to eat out of date fish cakes? ›

After the use-by date, the food is unsafe to eat, even if it has been stored correctly and looks and smells fine.

What is the pink in fish cake? ›

This processed roll is primarily made of frozen surimi (processed, pureed whitefish), while the pink swirl comes from food coloring. Invented in the 1800s and prepared by slicing and steaming, narutomaki has a history of gracing traditional noodle soups, such as ramen and soba.

Is Korean food healthy? ›

Luckily for Korean foodies, Korean food can be as good for you as it tastes. The dominant cooking methods used in Korea are all healthy: grilling, fermenting and stewing. Even stir-frying uses only a little oil to cook quickly, ensuring that vegetables remain crisp, retaining their nutrients.

Are Korean fish cakes frozen? ›

Eomuk 어묵 Commercial fish cakes are made of starch, flour, sugar, and ground fish, squid, or shrimp, formed into shapes, fried or steamed and then sold frozen.

Why do fish cakes fall apart when cooked? ›

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

What does Korean fish cake taste like? ›

It tastes savory with soft texture and can have various flavors depending on the additional ingredient. Koreans use the Fish Cake for everyday meals with a variety of recipes. Most commonly, just deep fry and put some sauce on it.

What are fish cakes called in Korea? ›

Eomuk 어묵 Hi everybody! Today I'm very happy to show you my recipe for homemade fish cake, called eomuk in Korean.

What fish is fish cake made of? ›

The fishcakes will be a little bit softer but they will still work just as well. I used cod for these but any white fish will do – including smoked fish (though probably not kippers). You could even use salmon if you fancy being decadent.

What kind of fish cake is in ramen? ›

If it's floating atop a bowl of ramen, it's probably a slice of narutomaki, the iconic Japanese fishcake.

Is Naruto fish cake made of fish? ›

Narutomaki is made from surimi (white fish paste) that's been molded into a log and steamed. The pink spiral comes from dying half of the surimi with red food coloring and then rolling it into a cylinder.

Where did eomuk come from? ›

Eomuk (어묵) or fish cake, was introduced into Korea during the Japanese occupation. The exact origin of this product is unclear, but its main ingredient, which is a paste made from corvina or cuttlefish mixed with sugar, flour, salt, and starch, has been around in Asia for centuries..

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