Crispy Lettuce Kimchi Salad
How to Make Delicious and Fresh Lettuce Kimchi
A summer delight! This crispy lettuce kimchi salad features fresh lettuce, sweet onions, and aromatic green onions tossed in a perfectly balanced spicy and sweet sauce. It’s incredibly simple to make and a fantastic side dish that highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients. Enjoy this delightful appetizer with rice or as a refreshing accompaniment to grilled meats.
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 bag lettuce (approx. 100g)
- 1/4 onion (small size)
- 2 stalks green onion (white part, or 1 white stalk and a little green part)
Special Sauce
- 2 slices pear (approx. 30g, pureed)
- 1 slice apple (approx. 20g, pureed)
- 5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy flavor)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (regular)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame seeds, to taste (for garnish)
- 2 slices pear (approx. 30g, pureed)
- 1 slice apple (approx. 20g, pureed)
- 5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy flavor)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (regular)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame seeds, to taste (for garnish)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the lettuce 2-3 times under cold running water to thoroughly clean it. Drain any excess water by placing it in a colander. Peel and thinly slice the onion into julienne strips. If the onion is too strong, slicing it thinly will help reduce its pungency.
Step 2
Peel the pear and apple, remove the cores, and then puree them in a blender until smooth. The addition of fruit will enhance the sauce’s umami and sweetness, making it even more delicious. Trim the roots off the green onions, wash them, and slice them into 2-3 cm lengths, including the green parts. Using only the white part is fine, but including the green parts adds extra aroma.
Step 3
In a bowl, combine the gochugaru (5 Tbsp), fish sauce (2 Tbsp), soy sauce (3 Tbsp), and minced garlic (2 Tbsp). Mix well. Add the pureed pear and apple to the bowl and stir until smoothly incorporated. Finally, add the sliced green onions and mix everything together to create the sauce. Letting the sauce sit for a few minutes allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 4
In a large mixing bowl, tear the drained lettuce into bite-sized pieces (about 5-7 cm). Scatter the julienned onions evenly over the lettuce.
Step 5
Pour the prepared special sauce evenly over the lettuce and onions. Ensure the sauce covers everything without clumping in one area.
Step 6
Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds. Gently toss the salad with your hands to ensure the sauce coats the lettuce and onions evenly. Be careful not to overmix, as this can bruise the delicate lettuce leaves.
Step 7
Arrange the tossed lettuce kimchi salad attractively on a serving plate. Spread the salad gently to ensure the dressing reaches all the leaves, even those on the edges. This salad is best enjoyed immediately. If refrigerated, the flavors will deepen after about a day.
