🐙 Spicy Stir-Fried Octopus (Nakji Bokkeum)

🧾 INGREDIENTS (Serves 2)

🔹 Main

• 400 g octopus (cleaned, cut into pieces)
• 1/2 onion (sliced)
• 1 carrot (julienned)
• 1 green chili (sliced)

🔹 Sauce

• 1.5 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 1 tbsp gochugaru (chili flakes)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)

🔹 Rice Balls (Optional)

• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• Seaweed flakes

🔥 INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Prep Octopus

• Rinse with salt to remove slime
• Blanch in boiling water for 30–40 seconds
• Drain and set aside

Step 2: Make Sauce

• Mix gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil

Step 3: Stir-fry

1. Heat oil in pan
2. Sauté onion + carrot
3. Add octopus → stir quickly (high heat)
4. Add sauce → cook 3–4 minutes

👉 Don’t overcook (octopus sẽ bị dai)

Step 4: Finish

• Add green chili
• Toss well
• Sprinkle sesame seeds

Step 5: Rice Balls

• Mix rice with sesame oil + seaweed
• Roll into small balls

💡 PRO TIPS

🔥 Perfect texture

• Cook octopus fast + high heat
  👉 mềm, không bị rubber

🌶️ Flavor balance

• Too spicy → add a bit of honey
• Too salty → add water or more veggies

🍳 Upgrade version

• Add pork belly → siêu đỉnh
• Add noodles → thành combo “octopus + mì cay”

⚠️ COMMON MISTAKES

• ❌ Overcooking → octopus chewy
• ❌ Sauce cháy → lửa quá cao mà không đảo
• ❌ Không blanch → mùi tanh

📊 CALORIES (approx)

• ~400–600 kcal per serving