Crispy Winter Radish Salad (Musaengchae Muchim)
Winter Delicacy! Refreshing and Crispy Radish Salad
During the cold winter months, easily make a simple yet delicious radish salad with fresh radishes. Its crunchy texture and sweet, sour, and spicy seasoning will whet your appetite, making it an excellent side dish that pairs well with any meal.
Main Ingredients- 300g radish
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp minced green onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1/2 Tbsp saeujeot (fermented shrimp paste), finely minced or just the liquid
- 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce (or anchovy sauce)
- 2 Tbsp maesilcheong (plum extract)
- 1/2 Tbsp vinegar (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (for added nuttiness)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp minced green onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1/2 Tbsp saeujeot (fermented shrimp paste), finely minced or just the liquid
- 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce (or anchovy sauce)
- 2 Tbsp maesilcheong (plum extract)
- 1/2 Tbsp vinegar (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (for added nuttiness)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the 300g of radish, peel it, and then cut it into thin strips about 3-4cm long. If they are too thick, the seasoning won’t penetrate well, and if they are too thin, they might lose their crispiness. Aim for a moderate thickness.
Step 2
In a bowl with the julienned radish, add all the prepared seasoning ingredients: gochugaru, minced green onion, minced garlic, minced ginger, saeujeot, fish sauce, maesilcheong, and vinegar. If you don’t have saeujeot, you can use just its liquid. If you don’t have fish sauce, anchovy sauce can be used as a substitute. Gently mix everything together with your hands, ensuring the seasoning coats the radish evenly. Massage it gently to help the radish absorb the flavors.
Step 3
Once the seasoning has had a moment to meld with the radish, add 1 tablespoon of perilla oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds for a nutty aroma. Toss lightly again to combine. Adding perilla oil at the end preserves its fragrant flavor.
Step 4
Transfer the well-seasoned radish salad to a serving dish. While it’s ready to eat immediately, chilling it in the refrigerator for a short while will enhance its crispiness and refreshing taste. Its sweet, sour, and spicy flavor profile makes it an excellent accompaniment to rice.
