Crispy and Fresh Bok Choy Salad (Geotjeori)
Super Simple! Bok Choy Geotjeori Recipe That Goes Great with Rice
Hello everyone! It’s your friendly cooking companion, Sojjae’s Mom. Vegetable prices are through the roof lately, so some of you might be relying on aged kimchi if your fresh kimchi is all gone. I always pick up fresh bok choy when I go to the supermarket because it’s affordable and delicious. Besides using it in baby food or making soybean paste soup, when I have a lot, I love to make this sweet, sour, and spicy geotjeori (fresh kimchi salad) – it’s a perfect side dish, especially for Dad’s drinks! This recipe is so easy, even beginners can make it with confidence. It’s a ‘one-star difficulty’ recipe, so try making this delicious geotjeori with fresh bok choy!
Essential Ingredients- 1 bunch Bok Choy
- 1/2 Onion
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes – 1 Tbsp coarse, 1 Tbsp fine)
- 2 Tbsp Maesil Cheong (Plum Syrup)
- 2 Tbsp Fish Sauce (Anchovy)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- A pinch of Sesame Seeds
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes – 1 Tbsp coarse, 1 Tbsp fine)
- 2 Tbsp Maesil Cheong (Plum Syrup)
- 2 Tbsp Fish Sauce (Anchovy)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- A pinch of Sesame Seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the bok choy thoroughly under running water. For extra freshness, you can soak it in water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar for about 5 minutes before rinsing.
Step 2
Trim off the tough root ends of the bok choy. (You can set aside a small portion of the bok choy for other dishes like soybean paste soup if you like.)
Step 3
Cut the larger leaves in half to a manageable size for eating. Be careful not to cut them too small, as this can diminish the crunchy texture.
Step 4
Place the prepared bok choy in a large bowl. Thinly slice half an onion and add it to the bowl along with the bok choy. Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic.
Step 5
Now it’s time for the star of the seasoning: gochugaru. Adding 1 tablespoon of coarse gochugaru and 1 tablespoon of fine gochugaru will enhance both the color and the spicy flavor.
Step 6
Next, add the ingredients that will bring sweetness and umami. Use 2 tablespoons of maesil cheong for a sweet and sour taste, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce for a deep savory flavor, and finally, drizzle in 2 tablespoons of sesame oil for richness.
Step 7
Finish by generously sprinkling sesame seeds on top. This not only makes the salad look appealing but also adds a nutty flavor and satisfying texture.
Step 8
Gently mix all the ingredients together until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Avoid mixing too vigorously, as this can make the bok choy lose its crispiness. This super simple geotjeori can be made in under 20 minutes from preparation to serving! (It took me about 30 minutes because I was also preparing baby food and soybean paste soup for the kids.)
