Korean Braised Dried Pollock and Potatoes
Quick answer
Hwangtae gamja jorim is a Korean braised dish of dried pollock strips and potato in a soy sauce seasoning with gochugaru and oligosaccharide syrup.
What makes this special
- Hwangtae gamja jorim simmers chewy dried pollock and potatoes in a sweet soy and chili glaze.
- Soaking dried pollock for only 20 seconds preserves its chewy fibrous texture
- Par-cooking potato 8 minutes before adding pollock keeps each ingredient's ideal texture
Key ingredients
Core cooking flow
- 1 Soak 90 g dried pollock strips in lukewarm water for only 5 minutes.
- 2 Cut 300 g potato into even 1.5 cm half-moon slices so the pieces cook at the same speed.
- 3 Mix 2.5 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp gochugaru, 1 tbsp oligosaccharide syrup, 1 tsp...
Hwangtae gamja jorim is a Korean braised dish of dried pollock strips and potato in a soy sauce seasoning with gochugaru and oligosaccharide syrup. The potatoes are cooked first until partially tender, then briefly soaked pollock strips and sliced onion are added to braise together in the same pan. The pollock absorbs the seasoned braising liquid and turns pleasantly chewy while the potato softens into a floury, starchy texture. Oligosaccharide syrup rounds out the saltiness of the soy sauce with a gentle sweetness, and sesame oil added off the heat finishes everything with a nutty fragrance. Keeping the pollock soak time short is the single most important step for preserving its characteristic texture, and the dish holds well overnight so it works as a packed lunchbox side.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Prep
Soak 90 g dried pollock strips in lukewarm water for only 5 minutes.
Squeeze them firmly right away so they do not turn mushy, then cut the strips into 5 cm pieces.
- 2Heat
Cut 300 g potato into even 1.5 cm half-moon slices so the pieces cook at the same speed.
Slice 80 g onion thickly and keep it ready to add after the potato has partly softened.
- 3Season
Mix 2.5 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp gochugaru, 1 tbsp oligosaccharide syrup, 1 tsp minced garlic, and 250 ml water until the syrup loosens and the seasoning looks even.
- 4Control
Place the potatoes in the pot, pour in the seasoning, cover, and cook over medium heat for about 6 minutes.
The potatoes should look slightly translucent at the edges and accept a chopstick only partway.
- 5Finish
Add the pollock strips and onion, then spoon the braising liquid over the top.
Simmer uncovered over medium heat for 4 more minutes, lowering the heat if the bottom starts to dry before the potatoes finish.
- 6Season
Turn off the heat when the potatoes are tender through the center and the pollock has absorbed the sauce but still feels chewy.
Drizzle in 1 tsp sesame oil, fold gently, and transfer to a serving dish.
After the steps
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