How to Make Nakji Bokkeum | Korean Spicy Stir-fry Octopus

How to Make Nakji Bokkeum | Korean Spicy Stir-fry Octopus

Nakji Bokkeum (Korean spicy stir-fried small octopus) is one of Korea’s most beloved spicy dishes.

In Korea, nakji (small octopus) is actually more famously known for the raw dish san-nakji. You might have seen it online—chopped-up octopus that’s still moving on the plate… Yeah, if you’re not Korean, it probably looks pretty bizarre. lol

But that’s definitely not the only way we enjoy nakji! There are many ways to prepare it, but this spicy stir-fry is hands down my favorite.

📺 Watch How to Make This Nakji Bokkeum

🐙 What is Nakji Bokkeum?

“Nakji” means small octopus in Korean, and “bokkeum” means stir-fry. It’s known for its bold gochujang-based sauce, often mixed with gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. The dish is stir-fried quickly over high heat to keep the octopus tender—not rubbery! It’s a dish many Koreans crave when they’re feeling stressed—spicy food is known to help release tension!

🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need

Nakji (Octopus)

• 1 lb (16oz) nakji, Korean small octopus
• 2 tbsp kosher salt

Sauce

• 1 tbsp gochujang, Korean red pepper paste
• 3 tbsp gochugaru, Korean red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown rice syrup, corn syrup or honey
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1tsp sesame oil
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped garlic (approximately 5 to 6 garlic cloves)

Vegetables

• 5 oz yellow or white onion (approximately 1/2 of large size onion)
• 5 oz green cabbage (approximately 1/4 of small-size cabbage)
• 2 oz carrot (approximately 1/2 of medium size carrot)
• 2 green onions
• 1 green chili to taste
• 2 tbsp cooking oil

For Soy Beansprouts

• 12 oz blenched soy bean sprouts
• 1 tbsp sesame oil

Garnish

• sesame seeds
• radish sprouts or any green sprouts

You can serve Nakji Bokkeum with warm cooked rice, somyeon (thin wheat noodles), or blanched soybean sprouts. 🙂 Personally, I love eating it with soybean sprouts—the textures go so well together!

I hope you give this recipe a try at home someday. 😄
It’s the perfect dish when you’re feeling stressed—spicy food always helps, you know?

Nakji Bokkeum Recipe

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5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Seonkyoung Longest
• Total Time: 15 mins
• Yield: 4

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Nakji (Octopus)

• 1 lb (16oz) nakji, Korean small octopus
• 2 tbsp kosher salt

Sauce

• 1 tbsp gochujang, Korean red pepper paste
• 3 tbsp gochugaru, Korean red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown rice syrup, corn syrup or honey
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1tsp sesame oil
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped garlic (approximately 5 to 6 garlic cloves)

Vegetables

• 5 oz yellow or white onion (approximately 1/2 of large size onion)
• 5 oz green cabbage (approximately 1/4 of small-size cabbage)
• 2 oz carrot (approximately 1/2 of medium size carrot)
• 2 green onions
• 1 green chili to taste
• 2 tbsp cooking oil

For Soy Beansprouts

• 12 oz blenched soy bean sprouts
• 1 tbsp sesame oil

Garnish

• sesame seeds
• radish sprouts or any green sprouts

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Instructions

1. Thaw out nakji(small octopus) if you are using frozen one, or clean all guts and cut into bite size if you are using fresh one. Sprinkle kosher salt on nakji and scrub them with rubbing action to clean their suctions, about 2 to 3 minutes or until you see small bubbles. When you see bubbles, since off nakji under running cold water throughly to get rid of all salt. Drain completely, set aside.
   
2. In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients for the sauce and mix well with a spoon until they are glossy and smooth. Add drained nakji and mix together. Set aside and let them marinated while we are preparing vegetables.
   
3. Slice onion and cabbage into 1/2 inch wide, slice carrot into 1/8 inch thin and green onion into diagonal angle. Slice green chili into diagonal angle as well if you are using.
   
4. Heat a wok over hight heat, add oil. Add onion, cabbage and carrot; stir fry for 2 minutes or until they are soft.
   
5. Add nakji and sauce mixture into wok, make sure scrap all sauce from mixing bowl to not miss out even a drop of deliciousness! Stir fry for 3 minutes or until nakji’s cooked perfectly. Be careful not to overcook nakji, it will get rubbery.
   
6. Stir in green onion and remove from heat.
   
7. Mix blenched soy bean sprouts and sesame oil in a bowl; place on serving plate.
   
8. Place nakji bokkeum on top of soy bean sprouts and garnish with sesame seeds and radish sprouts.
   
   Enjoy!

Notes

You also can just serve Nakjii Bokkeum with warm cooked rice or somyeon(some) noodles.

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

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If you love this wonderful recipe for nakji bokkeum, you’ll also enjoy my Osam Bulgogi (spicy stir-fried squid & porkbelly) post.