Crisp and Refreshing Chicory and Cucumber Salad
The Ultimate Constipation-Preventing Dish! Chicory and Cucumber Salad – A Perfect Pairing with Pork
Excellent for preventing constipation! This chicory and cucumber salad is a perfect match for pork. Its crisp texture and refreshing, savory-sweet dressing make it a delightful side dish or salad.
Main Ingredients- 1 bag fresh chicory (approx. 100-150g)
- 1/2 cucumber, crisp
- 1/2 onion
- 1/2 green onion
- 2 Korean chili peppers (cheongyang)
- 1 red chili pepper
Seasoning- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder, adjust to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp tuna fish sauce (for umami)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder, adjust to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp tuna fish sauce (for umami)
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the star of our dish: fresh chicory. Wash it thoroughly, pat it dry, and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Place it in a mixing bowl. Thinly slice the cucumber and onion. Finely chop the green onion, Korean chili peppers, and red chili pepper.
Step 2
Add all the prepared vegetables to the bowl with the chicory. Now it’s time to bring everything together, but before adding the dressing, gently toss the vegetables to combine them loosely.
Step 3
Alright, now let’s create the delicious dressing! This is what will give our chicory and cucumber salad its wonderful flavor.
Step 4
In a separate small bowl, combine all the seasoning ingredients: 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1/2 Tbsp gochugaru, 1/2 Tbsp tuna fish sauce, 1/2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and 1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Stir them together until well mixed.
Step 5
Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetables in the mixing bowl. Gently toss everything together using your hands. Be careful not to mash the vegetables. The key is to lift and fold the ingredients to ensure the dressing coats everything evenly. Continue mixing for about 1-2 minutes.
Step 6
And there you have it! Your delicious chicory and cucumber salad is ready. The perfect balance of crisp vegetables and the savory-sweet dressing is truly delightful.
Step 7
Transfer the finished salad to a serving plate, mounding it up attractively. The vibrant colors of the fresh ingredients will make your dining table look even more appealing.
Step 8
For today’s meal, shall we pair this with rice, or perhaps a hearty meat dish? The flavor is so good, it makes you ponder!
Step 9
The slightly bitter notes of the chicory make it a fantastic side dish for rice, and its rich nutrients make it a healthy salad option on its own. However, after tasting this delightful salad, the craving for meat becomes irresistible! So, I grilled up some pork belly until it was wonderfully crisp. Place a generous portion of the chicory and cucumber salad on a piece of crispy pork belly and take a big bite! The combination of the crunchy vegetables and the savory pork belly is absolutely spectacular. It offers a unique charm that even surpasses traditional kimchi-based side dishes like ‘pajori’ (green onion salad) or lettuce wraps, bringing immense happiness to your table. You absolutely must try making this!
