Fragrant Wild Vegetable Salad Recipe
Wild Vegetable Salad (Wild Pepper Leaves and Angelica Tree Leaves) with a Springtime Touch
On a bright day, after visiting my mother’s gravesite and returning home, I spotted beautiful, fresh wild vegetable sprouts. The wild pepper leaves were particularly lovely! My brother gallantly ventured through thorny bushes to pick them for me. Using these freshly gathered wild vegetables, I’ve prepared a fragrant salad full of spring’s essence.
Main Ingredients- 300g blanched wild vegetables (e.g., wild pepper leaves, Angelica tree leaves)
- A small amount of chives or green onions, finely chopped
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Harvesting Process: Here’s my brother carefully navigating through thorny bushes to pick fresh wild vegetable sprouts. (While this recipe uses freshly picked vegetables, you can substitute with store-bought blanched wild vegetables.)
Step 2
Post-Hike Joy: This moment captures the delight of foraging for wild vegetables while breathing in the fresh mountain air. It’s a moment of healing for the body and soul, especially after the hustle of city life.
Step 3
Blanching the Wild Vegetables: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of coarse salt. Blanch the wild vegetables briefly, just like spinach, for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Avoid over-blanching to maintain their crisp texture.
Step 4
Rinsing and Draining: Immediately after blanching, rinse the wild vegetables under cold running water to cool them down. Then, transfer them to a colander and gently squeeze out as much water as possible with your hands. Thoroughly draining is key to preventing a watery salad and ensuring the flavors meld well.
Step 5
Mixing and Seasoning: Place the drained wild vegetables in a bowl. Add gochujang, chopped chives (or green onions), minced garlic, plum extract, sesame oil, and crushed toasted sesame seeds. Gently mix everything together with your hands, ensuring not to mash the vegetables. Taste and adjust the seasoning, especially the gochujang and plum extract, according to your family’s preference. If you enjoy a tangier taste, feel free to add a little more plum extract.
Step 6
Sharing the Delicious Salad: The fresh, vibrant aroma of the just-made wild vegetable salad fills the home. True to the saying, ‘Sharing joy doubles it, and sharing sorrow halves it,’ I shared this delicious, homemade salad with my neighbors, multiplying the happiness. It was a warm moment, making the joy of sharing even greater.
