Braised mackerel with radish

I’m very excited to introduce you to this popular Korean side dish, “godeungeo-mujorim,” which is braised mackerel and radish in soy sauce based broth. Along with grilled mackerel, this is the most popular way of cooking mackerel in Korean cuisine.

I love not only the fish but also the cooked radish. The texture of the cooked radish is soft, juicy, and a little sweet and salty. When you cook this dish, expect your house to be full of a delicious aroma that might lead your neighbors to knock at your door and say with sniff sniff:

“Where does this delicious smell come from? It makes me go crazy! uh? Is this mackerel? Holy mackerel!  It looks so tasty! Can you share some with me?”

Ingredients

For 4 servings
Cooking time: 50-60 minutes

Mackerel, soy sauce, sugar, Korean hot pepper flakes (gochugaru), garlic, ginger, Korean radish (or daikon), onion, green onions, green and red chili peppers.

Directions

1. Prepare 2 medium sized fresh or frozen mackerel (750 grams, or 1.7 pounds). Thaw them out if frozen.
2. Cut off the fins and heads.
3. Make a slit from the top to the vent and clean the guts.
4. Cut the fish across into 2 inch pieces, rinse in cold water, drain, and set aside
   

Prepare your vegetables:

1. Peel a large, heavy Korean radish. Cut 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) worth of  radish into pieces 2 inch wide, 2½ inch long, and 1 inch thick.
2. Add the radish pieces to a large thick bottomed pot with. Spread them out evenly, by hand.
3. 1 large onion or 2 medium sized onions (about 400 grams’, or 2 cups’ worth), cut into ¼ inch thick slices and  place over the radish.
4. Cut 3 stalks of green onions into pieces 1 inch long, and chop 2 green chili peppers and 1 red chili pepper. Set aside

Let’s make godeungeo jorim:

1. Place the mackerel on top of the pieces of radish.
   
2. Make seasoning sauce in a bowl by mixing ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup hot pepper flakes, 2 tbs sugar, ⅓  cup garlic cloves minced (12 cloves), and 1 tbs of minced ginger.
   
3. Pour the seasoning sauce over the fish. Pour in 1 cup of water along the edges of the pot.
4. Close the lid and bring to a boil over high heat for 20 minutes.
5. Open the lid, tilt the pot, and use a spoon to push aside the mackerel and radish to make empty spot for the broth to well.
6. Scoop some broth from the empty spot and pour it over top of the fish and radish. Repeat several times.
7. Add the chopped green onion, green and red chili peppers.
   
8. Close the lid and lower the heat to a simmer for 30-40 minutes, until the radish is cooked thoroughly. The radish will absorb the soy sauce based broth, so it will look brownish and a little translucent when cooked nicely.
9. Open the lid and turn up the heat to boil off excess broth.
10. Tilt the pot and use a spoon to push aside the mackerel and radish to make empty spot for the broth to well.
11. Scoop some broth from the empty spot and pour it over top of the fish and radish. Repeat it off and on for about 5-7 minutes.
12. Turn off the heat and transfer to a serving plate. Serve with rice, kimchi, soup, lettuce, and a few more side dishes.
    

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