Fish was omnipresent on Hektor Maille's journey through Korea, not just in the harbour of Mokpo, where he had to wait to take the boat to Hongdo.
Dried Anchovies in Spicy Sauce
Myulchi Bokkeum (멸치볶음) is a classic snack (Banchan) in the Korean kitchen, which is best-prepared with dried anchovies (Myulchi, roughly 5 cm in length). In Europe, dried fish can mostly be bought deep-frozen – not only for reasons of hygiene but also olfactory. According to this recipe, the fish takes on a lovely golden colour and salty-spicy aroma on preparation and is best served with white rice.
Hektor Maille came across this little-fish dish on the tables of restaurant «Hangari» in Gwangju, during his search for the missing daughter of the kidnapped Professor Koslow.
1 small handful dried anchovies of about 5 cm
1 tablespoons rapeseed oil
1 tablespoon red pepper paste (if available Corean Gochujang)
1 tablespoon sugar
3 pods garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Some drops sesame oil
If you like it more salty you may use soy sauce instead of water.
More about the travel adventure of Secret Agent Hektor Maille:
While Hektor Maille sat absorbed in the spicy aromas of these culinary preparations, he pondered the meaning of the Solomon's Seal that had appeared before him all of a sudden:
First Publication: 1-12-2009
Modifications: 25-1-2011, 18-6-2011, 14-11-2011, 13-12-2011