Crisp Radish Salad with Savory Fermented Shrimp (Saewoojeot)
Deep and Refreshing Flavor! How to Make Radish Salad with Saewoojeot
Hello! As the saying goes, ‘Strength comes from rice.’ Today, we’ll be making a crisp and deeply flavorful radish salad using saewoojeot, a beloved fermented shrimp paste that’s a staple on Korean dining tables. Saewoojeot is a representative of fermented seafood pastes, alongside anchovy and sand lance pastes, and it’s particularly popular during the kimchi-making season, accounting for 40% of total consumption. Aren’t you curious about the delicious aroma this saewoojeot will bring to our radish salad? Its unique deep and refreshing taste, combined with the crispness of the radish, will create the perfect side dish to whet your appetite. I’ll guide you through each step, making it easy even for beginners!
Main Ingredients- 800g Korean radish (preferably with some green leaves attached)
- 3 Tbsp Scallions (finely chopped)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the radish thoroughly. It’s best to use the part with the green leaves still attached, as this part tends to be sweeter and crisper. Peel the radish, then slice it thinly (about 0.3cm thick) or julienne it into strips about 5-7cm long. You can adjust the thickness to your preference.
Step 2
Place the julienned radish in a large bowl. Now, we’re ready to prepare the delicious seasonings.
Step 3
Prepare the seasoning ingredients that will define the flavor of your radish salad. You’ll need: 1 Tbsp fine gochugaru, 2 Tbsp coarse gochugaru, 1 Tbsp maesil extract, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, a pinch of ginger powder (use a very small amount or omit if you dislike the ginger aroma), 1 1/2 Tbsp minced saewoojeot, 1/2 Tbsp sugar, and finally, 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds.
Step 4
First, add 1 Tbsp of fine gochugaru to the radish and gently mix to coat. This step helps the radish absorb the chili powder color evenly and prevents the seasoning from clumping. Next, add the 2 Tbsp of coarse gochugaru and mix again gently. The coarse gochugaru adds texture and a deeper spicy flavor.
Step 5
Now, add all the remaining seasoning ingredients to the bowl: maesil extract, minced garlic, ginger powder, minced saewoojeot, sugar, and chopped scallions. Mixing all the seasonings together from the start allows the flavors to meld beautifully and ensures the seasoning is evenly distributed, resulting in a more delicious radish salad.
Step 6
Add all the prepared seasoning ingredients and gently toss the radish with your hands until everything is well combined. Be careful not to knead too forcefully, as this can release too much moisture from the radish, reducing its crispness. The key is to mix gently so the seasoning coats everything evenly. Finally, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a nutty aroma. Your delicious Saewoojeot Radish Salad is now ready!
