5-Minute Simple Pickled Radish Salad Recipe
Essential for Solo Living! Quick & Easy Pickled Radish Salad in Just 5 Minutes
The ultimate rice-stealing side dish for those living alone! This pickled radish salad is a masterpiece of simplicity, ready in a mere 5 minutes with no complex steps. It perfectly balances spicy and sweet flavors with a delightful chewy texture, making it an ideal dish for anyone short on time. You can achieve a delicious taste with just a few common pantry seasonings. Its refreshing, savory, and slightly tangy profile will stimulate your appetite and have you finishing your rice in no time.
Main Ingredients- 1/2 Yellow Pickled Radish or regular pickled radish (approx. 150-200g)
Garnish/Aromatics- 1/2 stalk of Green Onion or Scallion (white part mostly)
- 1/2 stalk of Green Onion or Scallion (white part mostly)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash and prepare all the ingredients for the recipe. Lightly pat the pickled radish dry and get ready to finely chop the green onions.
Step 2
We’ll cut the semi-circular pickled radish into more bite-sized pieces. Using a wavy knife (a crinkle cutter) will give it a decorative edge. If you don’t have one, a regular knife works perfectly fine to cut them into half-moon shapes or manageable pieces. About 1cm thick half-moons are standard.
Step 3
Wash the green onion (or scallion), focusing on the white parts, and mince it as finely as possible. The pungent flavor and aroma of the onion will meld beautifully with the seasoning, enhancing the overall taste.
Step 4
Now it’s time to mix the seasonings. Place the prepared pickled radish and minced green onion into a wide bowl. First, add 1 tablespoon of plum extract (Maesil Cheong) to enhance the radish’s savory notes and add a subtle sweetness. Toss lightly. If you don’t have plum extract, you can substitute it with corn syrup or sugar.
Step 5
Add 0.5 tablespoon of brown sugar to complement the tangy flavor of the pickled radish with sweetness. Adjust the sugar amount based on the inherent sweetness of your pickled radish. White sugar can be used as a substitute if brown sugar isn’t available.
Step 6
Add 1 tablespoon of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) for a touch of spiciness. If you’re making this for children or prefer less heat, feel free to reduce or omit the gochugaru. It adds a lovely color and balances the flavors.
Step 7
Add 1 tablespoon of fragrant sesame oil – the king of nutty flavors! Now, gently mix everything together with your hands, like you’re giving it a tender massage. Ensure the seasoning coats every piece of pickled radish evenly. Be gentle so as not to break the radish pieces.
Step 8
Finally, sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds for an extra boost of nutty aroma. The popping sesame seeds elevate the pickled radish salad to another level. You can also lightly crush whole toasted sesame seeds for a similar effect.
Step 9
With the sesame seeds added, give it one last gentle toss. Voila! Your super quick, 5-minute pickled radish salad is ready. The satisfyingly chewy texture and the spicy-sweet taste make it an outstanding side dish. It’s delicious right away, but chilling it in the refrigerator for a bit will make it even more refreshing and tasty!
