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Gamja bokkeum

Stir-fried potato strips

Gamja bokkeum: Korean stir-fried potato strips with onion and carrot

Gamja bokkeum is one of the banchan Korean mothers pack into lunchboxes and set out at dinner in Seoul and Busan: thin potato strips stir-fried with onion and carrot, seasoned only with salt, a little sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds. The strips should be tender and separate, with a slight bite, not crisp like chips and not mushy. The mistake is skipping the soak, so the surface starch makes the strips stick to each other and the pan and break up. Chef's tip: a quick soak in salted water also seasons the potato through.
Total time
20 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Soak 2 potatoes in cold water with ⅝ tsp salt for 8 minutes, then drain and pat dry.

    8 min
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the potatoes and stir-fry gently, lifting rather than stirring, for 4 minutes until they turn translucent at the edges.

    4 min
  3. Step 3: Add ½ onion, ½ carrot and the rest of ⅜ tsp salt and keep stir-frying until a potato strip bends without snapping and tastes cooked through.

    5 min
  4. Step 4: Take off the heat and toss with 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds and 1 pinch black pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
130 kcal
Protein
2 g
Carbs
19 g
Fat
6 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does gamja bokkeum take?
About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of potatoes?
Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
What can I use instead of onion?
2 shallots per onion.

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