Crispy Lettuce Salad
Fresh and Crunchy Lettuce Salad, Perfect Pairing for Grilled Pork Belly!
I’m currently on a mission to use up all the ingredients I received during the holiday season! My mom couldn’t tend to the lettuce garden due to a broken arm, so the lettuce grew a bit larger than usual. I picked some of the particularly crisp ones to quickly make this refreshing lettuce salad, which was the perfect accompaniment to our grilled pork belly for lunch. Try making this appetite-boosting lettuce salad right away!
Main Ingredients- 135g crisp lettuce
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
This is the star ingredient: ‘crisp lettuce’! Unlike regular lettuce, its leaves are a bit firmer yet still tender, making it wonderfully crunchy when tossed into a salad. (This is my personal observation.)
Step 2
Now, let’s make the delicious salad dressing. Instead of adding all the ingredients at once, a foolproof method is to start with the basic seasonings and then adjust the taste as you go. First, combine 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 0.5 tsp salt, and 1 Tbsp sugar in a large bowl.
Step 3
Next, add 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp of fragrant sesame oil, and 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds for added flavor.
Step 4
Since the crisp lettuce leaves are delicate, avoid vigorous tossing. Gently mix and toss as if handling feathers to ensure the dressing coats the leaves evenly without bruising them.
Step 5
After tasting the initial dressing, I found the sweetness to be a bit dominant. It’s important to adjust to your preference. Add another 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes and 0.5 tsp salt. Then, add 2 Tbsp more sesame oil and gently toss again. This will enhance both the color and aroma.
Step 6
If it still feels like something is missing, add 0.5 Tbsp of anchovy sauce for a boost of umami. Finally, sprinkle 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds to finish. My taste buds have been a bit peculiar lately, so I’ve adjusted this to my liking. Feel free to taste and adjust yours too!
Step 7
This crispy lettuce salad is best enjoyed immediately after tossing! Savor its fresh, crunchy texture. It pairs wonderfully with grilled pork belly or other grilled dishes, creating a truly fantastic meal.
