Ohsek kkochi jeon (roughly translated to five-color pan-fried skewers)—is one of many Korean pan-fried skewers or sanjeok comprised of vegetables, meat or a combination. The array of ingredients provide not only the five-color contrast, but also a variety of textures and flavors. Feel free to improvise by layering the ingredients differently or subbing in alternative ingredients. Serve them still on the skewers (with a warning to your guests to be careful)—or slide off the ingredients right before serving. The dipping sauce adds a nice counterpoint, but the skewers are also great on their own.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 35 min |
| Active: | 35 min |
| Yield: | 6 skewers |
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 35 min |
| Active: | 35 min |
| Yield: | 6 skewers |
Ingredients
- 6 cylindrical tteok (Korean rice cakes)
- Twelve 3.5-inch imitation crab sticks
- 3 to 4 scallions, white and light green parts only
- 3 strips pre-cut danmuji or pickled yellow radish (about 2 ounces; see Cook’s Note)
- 4 ounces Korean smoked fish ham (from a 16-ounce slab; see Cook’s Note)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon gochugaru, optional
Instructions
- For the skewers: Soak six 6-inch wooden skewers in a bowl of water while you prepare the ingredients.
- Bring a small pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the tteok and cook, stirring constantly to prevent sticking, until soft but bouncy, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander. If any of the tteok stick together, separate them with a wet hand. Cool slightly until ready to handle.
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, cut the imitation crab sticks, scallions, danmuji and smoked fish ham the same size as the tteok. To assemble, thread the ingredients on the skewers, about 1/4 inch from the end of each ingredient rather than down the center, as follows: imitation crab stick, scallion, danmuji, fish ham, tteok and a second crab stick. Line up each layer and push the layers close together. Lay the finished skewers on a baking dish or plate in one layer.
- Add the flour to a large rimmed plate and whisk the eggs in a medium bowl. Heat a large nonstick skillet with 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-low heat.
- One at a time, dredge all the skewers in the flour, coating them well on all sides; leave the dredged skewers on the baking dish. Working with one dredged skewer, shake off any excess flour, then dip and roll the skewer around in the eggs, making sure to coat it thoroughly with no flour peeping through. Place the skewer in the skillet; most of the egg will slide and drip to the bottom, creating a desirable “skirt,” which will secure and glue the layers together. Repeat with 2 more skewers, or as many as will fit in the skillet without crowding.
- Cook, undisturbed, until light golden underneath, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until the other side is light golden, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer the skewers to a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack and keep warm in the oven.
- Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-low heat. Repeat with the remaining floured skewers, dipping and rolling each one in the egg right before adding it to the skillet. Cook until light golden on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- For the dipping sauce: Whisk the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, gochugaru, if using, and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved.
- Serve the skewers immediately with the dipping sauce. You can also slide the ingredients off the skewers right before serving if you prefer.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 197 |
| Total Fat | 9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Protein | 16 g |
| Cholesterol | 130 mg |
| Sodium | 596 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 197 |
| Total Fat | 9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Protein | 16 g |
| Cholesterol | 130 mg |
| Sodium | 596 mg |