Chewy and Fresh Sea Grapes with Sweet and Tangy Gochujang Sauce
Blanching Sea Grapes Perfectly & Making the Best Gochujang Dipping Sauce
Enjoy the refreshing taste of winter’s finest sea grapes! These are perfect as a simple side dish, offering a delightfully chewy texture and the pure flavor of the sea. While they’re delicious tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing, today we’ll focus on enjoying their natural taste by dipping them in a vibrant gochujang sauce. The bright green hue of blanched sea grapes is visually appealing and stimulates the appetite. Even when you’re short on time, simply blanching them and serving with gochujang makes for a fantastic meal. #SeaGrapes #Blanching #GochujangSauce #SimpleSideDish #SeasonalFood #WinterDish #Seaweed
Main Ingredients- Sea Grapes 200g
For Cleaning Sea Grapes- Coarse Sea Salt 1 Tbsp
For Blanching Sea Grapes- Coarse Sea Salt 0.5 Tbsp
Gochujang Sauce Ingredients- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 3 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 1 Tbsp
- Vinegar 3 Tbsp
- Sugar 1.5 Tbsp
- Plum Extract 1 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 0.5 Tbsp
- Toasted Sesame Seeds to taste
- Coarse Sea Salt 1 Tbsp
For Blanching Sea Grapes- Coarse Sea Salt 0.5 Tbsp
Gochujang Sauce Ingredients- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 3 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 1 Tbsp
- Vinegar 3 Tbsp
- Sugar 1.5 Tbsp
- Plum Extract 1 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 0.5 Tbsp
- Toasted Sesame Seeds to taste
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) 3 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) 1 Tbsp
- Vinegar 3 Tbsp
- Sugar 1.5 Tbsp
- Plum Extract 1 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 0.5 Tbsp
- Toasted Sesame Seeds to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the sea grapes thoroughly under running water. Place the rinsed sea grapes in a large bowl and add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt. Gently massage them together. This process helps remove any slimy residue and impurities from the surface of the sea grapes, effectively eliminating any astringent taste or fishy odor. Rinse them 2-3 times again until clean, then place them in a colander to drain. While the sea grapes are draining, bring a generous amount of water to a rolling boil in a pot.
Step 2
Once the water is boiling vigorously, add 0.5 tablespoon of coarse sea salt. Adding a little salt to the boiling water helps maintain the vibrant green color of the sea grapes.
Step 3
When the water is at a rolling boil, carefully add the prepared sea grapes. It’s best to add the thicker stem parts first for more even cooking. You’ll notice the sea grapes instantly transform into a beautiful, bright green color the moment they hit the boiling water! This step is key to preserving their fresh, vibrant appearance.
Step 4
As soon as the sea grapes turn a vivid green, remove them immediately. Be careful not to overcook them, as they can become mushy. Quickly transfer the blanched sea grapes into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process and cool them down. Gently press them to squeeze out excess water. This ensures they retain their pleasant, chewy texture.
Step 5
Now, let’s make the delicious gochujang sauce! I made a generous batch because I absolutely love sea grapes. Feel free to adjust the seasoning amounts to your personal taste. (Tip: If you plan to eat more sea grapes later, making a larger batch of the sauce can be very convenient.)
Step 6
Arrange the perfectly blanched sea grapes on a plate and serve with the prepared gochujang sauce. The combination of fresh, seasonal sea grapes and the sweet and tangy sauce is truly exceptional! It’s a simple yet elegant meal or a wonderful side dish.
Step 7
Adjust the gochujang sauce to your liking by adding a little more of each ingredient as needed to achieve your perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. For instance, add more sugar or plum extract for sweetness, or more gochugaru for extra spice.
Step 8
This simple yet nutritious sea grape dish is perfect for whetting your appetite, especially during the winter months when it can be hard to feel hungry. It’s not complicated, so give it a try!
Step 9
Personally, I love sea grapes so much that I could eat them every day without getting tired of them. Enjoy the fresh taste of the sea conveniently in your own home.
