koreanzucchiniveganlowfatbanchanstir-fry

Hobak Bokkeum

Name: Hobak Bokkeum
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 300 g zucchini; 10 g garlic, minced; 20 g scallion, thinly sliced; 5 ml neutral oil; 10 ml soy sauce; 5 ml sesame oil; 3 g sesame seeds; 1 g fine salt; 0.5 g ground black pepper

Hobak Bokkeum is a quick, savory Korean zucchini stir-fry with a clean garlic aroma and a light nutty finish from sesame oil and seeds. Tender-crisp slices of zucchini soak up just enough soy sauce to become deeply flavorful while staying fresh and delicate.

10 min

2 servings

63 kcal

Korean

Ingredients

For the stir-fry

300 gzucchini
10 ggarlic, minced
20 gscallion, thinly sliced
5 mlneutral oil
10 mlsoy sauce
5 mlsesame oil
3 gsesame seeds
1 gfine salt
0.5 gground black pepper

Instructions

1
Wash the zucchini, then cut it into thin half-moons about 4-5 mm thick. Mince the garlic and thinly slice the scallion, keeping a little scallion aside for garnish. Having everything ready is important because this dish cooks very quickly.
2
Heat a wide frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the neutral oil, then add the garlic and most of the scallion. Stir for about 20-30 seconds just until fragrant; do not let the garlic brown or it can turn bitter.
3
Add the zucchini, salt, and black pepper. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently, until the zucchini is just tender but still slightly crisp. If the pan looks dry, keep tossing rather than adding more oil to maintain the low-fat style.
4
Add the soy sauce and sesame oil, and stir-fry for 30-60 seconds more until the zucchini is evenly seasoned and glossy. Turn off the heat as soon as the zucchini softens; overcooking can make it watery.
5
Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with the reserved scallion and sesame seeds. Serve immediately as a light side dish with rice or alongside other Korean dishes.

Nutrition per serving

63 kcal

Calories

Protein

Carbs

Fat

Fiber

Notes

•For the best texture, use small to medium zucchini with firm flesh and few seeds.
•A wide pan helps moisture evaporate quickly so the zucchini stir-fries instead of steaming.
•If you want a more traditional savory depth, a pinch of soup soy sauce can be used in place of part of the regular soy sauce, but keep the total amount similar.

Background

Hobak bokkeum is a classic Korean banchan, or small side dish, made by quickly stir-frying squash or zucchini with simple seasonings. It reflects the Korean home-cooking tradition of turning everyday vegetables into flavorful, balanced accompaniments that can be prepared in minutes.

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