Korean Braised Potatoes is a sweet and savory side dish that you can serve up in under 20 minutes. Whether you’re a fan of Korean food or simply looking to expand your cooking repertoire, this dish is a must-try. The potatoes are cooked on the stovetop and braised in a garlic soy marinade that is slightly sweet and sticky. It packs a ton of flavor and can be served with a steamy bowl of rice and other Korean side dishes.
What are Korean Braised Potatoes (Gamja Jorim)?
Korean Braised Potatoes, known as “Gamja Jorim” in Korean, is a beloved side dish (“banchan”) that’s been a part of Korean cuisine for generations. This humble yet flavorful dish has its roots in Korean home cooking and is often served at family meals and festive occasions.
The star ingredient, as the name suggests, is the potato. The potatoes are sauted then braised in a soy garlic sauce until it reduces and turns slightly sticky. The delightful mix of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy notes make this dish super addicting and is guaranteed to keep you coming back for more.
What kind of potatoes should I use?
I like using creamer or baby potatoes for this dish which are easily found at Costco. The thin skin eliminates the need to peel, and their smaller size make chopping quick and easy. The potatoes can simply be chopped in half or quartered depending on their size. Fingerling potatoes would also work great for this dish.
Aim for waxy potatoes like red potatoes, or semi-waxy (Yukon Gold potatoes), as they are better able to hold their shape during cooking.
If using a thick skinned potato like Russet potatoes, be sure to peel the skin beforehand.
How to make Korean Braised Potatoes (Gamja Jorim)
1. Chop your potatoes and vegetables
Chop the potatoes into 1 inch pieces and thinly slice onions and bell peppers. Mince the garlic.
2. Saute the potatoes in a hot pan until the sides are golden
Add oil to a hot pan and saute the potatoes until they turn golden.
3. Prepare your soy garlic sauce
Combine soy sauce, honey, mirin, garlic, and black pepper to a small bowl. Mix and set aside.
4. Add the sauce and simmer until potatoes are fork tender
Drizzle in the sauce along with a tablespoon of water. Mix to ensure the potatoes are coated in the sauce then reduce the heat and cover with a lid. Allow to simmer until the potatoes are fork tender.
5. Garnish with sesame oil and sesame seeds
How to serve
As with any Korean side dish (banchan), Gamja Jorim is served with rice and an array of additional sides like kimchi, pickled radish, etc. It’s also great served cold or at room temperature and makes for a great side to pack in a lunch or bento box.
Korean Braised Potatoes (Gamja Jorim)
Ingredients
- 20 oz potatoes, chopped into 1 inch pieces about 2.5 cups
- 1/2 bell pepper, or 3 mini peppers, thinly sliced
- 1/2 onion thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or any neutral oil like canola, grapeseed, vegetable, etc
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
For the sauce
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey or sweetner of choice
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add oil to hot pan and saute potatoes on medium heat until the sides turn golden (about 8 to 10 minutes).
- Combine sauce ingredients into a small bowl and mix. Set aside.
- Once potatoes are golden, add onions and peppers and saute for another 2 minutes. Then add in the sauce and mix. Add 1 tbsp of water to the pan then reduce heat to low and allow everything to cook for 8 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender (you should be able able to easily pierce the potatoes with a fork).
- Take potatoes off the heat and add sesame oil and mix. Transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl and garnish with sesame seeds.
