Chewy and Firm Acorn Jelly Salad (Dotorimuk Muchim)
The Ultimate Korean Appetizer: Refreshing Acorn Jelly Salad
Learn how to make a delicious and vibrant acorn jelly salad using leftover vegetables from your fridge. I’ll even share a secret tip to achieve that perfectly firm and chewy texture! This recipe is perfect for a light meal, a side dish, or a refreshing appetizer. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients- 1 Acorn Jelly (Dotorimuk)
- 1/2 Cucumber
- 3 Perilla Leaves (Kkaennip)
- 1/4 Carrot
- 5 Lettuce Leaves
- 1/2 Onion
Dressing- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all your fresh vegetables. Wash the cucumber, perilla leaves, carrot, lettuce, and onion thoroughly. For a delightful eating experience, cut your vegetables into varied shapes. ‘A beautiful cake tastes good too’ – presentation matters! Aim for cuts that complement the acorn jelly, avoiding pieces that are too thick or too thin. Slice the cucumber into half-moons or thin strips. Tear or julienne the perilla leaves and lettuce. Finely julienne the carrot and onion. This preparation ensures a pleasing texture and visual appeal.
Step 2
Now, let’s achieve that perfect chewy texture for the acorn jelly. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Carefully add the block of acorn jelly and blanch it for approximately 2 minutes. Be cautious not to overcook, as this can make the jelly mushy. Immediately after blanching, rinse the acorn jelly under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Drain it well. This step is crucial for making the acorn jelly firm and wonderfully chewy. Once cooled and drained, cut the acorn jelly into pieces similar in length to your prepared vegetables.
Step 3
It’s time to whip up the flavorful dressing! In a small bowl, combine the gochugaru, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and toasted sesame seeds. Whisk everything together until well combined and smooth. This simple yet potent dressing will bring all the flavors of the salad together.
Step 4
Finally, let’s assemble and toss the salad! In a large mixing bowl, combine the prepared vegetables and the blanched, cut acorn jelly. Pour the prepared dressing over the ingredients. Now, gently toss everything together using your hands. The goal is to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing without bruising the vegetables. Mix until just combined. See? It’s incredibly easy! Your delicious acorn jelly salad is ready. You can enjoy it immediately, or chill it in the refrigerator for a short while to let the flavors meld beautifully.
