Deliciously Chewy and Fragrant Seasoned Fern
How to Boil Dried Fern for Soft Texture: A Perfect Recipe for Seollal (Korean New Year) Namul
For Seollal’s traditional ‘muk namul’ (seasoned dried vegetables), it’s crucial to soak and boil dried fern roots carefully over time to achieve a tender texture without any musty smell. This recipe guides you through the process to create a delightful fern side dish.
Ingredients
- 70g dried fern roots
- 3L water (for boiling)
- 1 Tbsp salt (for boiling)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 70g of dried fern roots. These roots, when rehydrated and cooked, offer a wonderful chewy texture and a subtle, earthy aroma that makes for a truly delicious side dish.
Step 2
Soak the dried fern roots in cold water for about 5 to 6 hours until they are thoroughly rehydrated and softened. This step is key to ensuring tenderness. It’s beneficial to change the soaking water several times during this period; this helps to remove any residual ‘old’ smell and results in a cleaner flavor.
Step 3
Place the soaked fern roots and 3L of water into a pot. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. It’s advisable to cover the pot slightly askew to prevent boiling over, which also aids in tenderizing the fern.
Step 4
Once the water reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. After simmering, turn off the heat, keep the lid on, and let the fern roots steep in the hot water for about 2 hours. This extended steeping allows the fern roots to become moist and tender all the way through. If they are still not soft enough after this, you can repeat the boiling and steeping process one more time.
Step 5
One boiling and steeping session was enough to make the fern roots wonderfully tender for me. Once cooked, drain the fern roots, rinse them gently under cool water, and let them drain thoroughly in a colander. For longer storage, you can place the drained fern roots in a zip-top bag with some water and freeze them. This method helps preserve their freshness.
Step 6
Enjoy your delicious fern namul, prepared with such care! It makes a fantastic side dish and a wonderful addition to any meal, especially during festive occasions.
