Sweet and Spicy Kkolttugi Jorim (Braised Baby Squid)
A side dish made by soaking dried baby squid to reduce saltiness, then stir-frying it in a sweet and spicy seasoning.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
Dried baby squid is soaked in water to remove excess salt, then stir-fried in a dry pan to evaporate excess moisture and bring out a chewy texture. Braised in a sauce of gochujang and soy sauce until a little liquid remains, it makes a savory side dish.
- Servings
- about 4–6 servings
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Mildly spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Dried baby squid2 cups (130 g)
Seasoning
- Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)1.5 tbsp (1 1/2 tbsp)
- Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang)1 tbsp
- Mirin (cooking rice wine)2 tbsp
- Corn syrup (mulyeot)2 tbsp
- Minced garlic1/2 tbsp
- Sugar1/2 tbsp
- Toasted sesame oil
- Toasted sesame seeds
- To soften them, soak in water for about 20 minutes, changing the water several times so the excess salt is drawn out.
- Pick out any debris from the dried baby squid.
Steps
1. This is dried baby squid.
I sometimes see it at dried seafood shops or large supermarkets.
Pick out any debris cleanly.
2. To soften them, soak in water for about 20 minutes, changing the water several times so the excess salt is drawn out.
3. Drain through a sieve to remove excess moisture.
4. Without adding oil, stir-fry the baby squid to drive off the moisture.
If they smell quite fishy, you can also stir-fry them with alcohol like soju or cheongju (Korean rice wine).
Stir-frying first gives the softened baby squid a pleasant, chewy texture.
If tiny dried anchovies are too salty, you can also rinse them in water, stir-fry them like this, and braise them.
5. Add all seasoning ingredients except toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, and let it bubble briefly...
6. Add the baby squid and stir-fry.
7. Do not simmer it down completely dry; braise until a little liquid remains.
8. At the end, add toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds and mix well.
Ppunwife's tips
- If they smell quite fishy, you can also stir-fry them with alcohol like soju or cheongju (Korean rice wine).
- Stir-frying first gives the softened baby squid a pleasant, chewy texture.
- Do not simmer it down completely dry; braise until a little liquid remains.
FAQ
Why do you soak the baby squid in water before braising?
They are soaked for about 20 minutes while changing the water to soften the dried baby squid and draw out excess salt.
How do you remove the fishy odor from the baby squid?
When stir-frying them in a dry pan without oil to remove moisture, adding a splash of alcohol like soju or cheongju helps reduce any fishy smell.
Is there anything to keep in mind when reducing the sauce?
If you reduce it completely dry, it can harden, so turn off the heat while a little liquid still coats the pan, then finish with toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.
