Spicy, Sour, and Sweet Bellflower & Cucumber Salad
How to Make Bellflower Cucumber Salad, Bellflower Gochujang Salad, Bellflower Side Dish
This dish features fragrant bellflowers (doraji) mixed with crisp cucumbers in a delightful spicy, sour, and sweet dressing, making it a perfect accompaniment to any meal. We’ve perfectly balanced the bellflower’s unique bitterness with a savory seasoning that the whole family absolutely loved. It’s especially refreshing after indulging in rich holiday foods. The slightly bitter yet crunchy bellflowers harmonize beautifully with the vibrant red seasoning. For an even more satisfying main side dish, consider adding tender, blanched squid – a truly delicious combination! We’ll guide you step-by-step on how to prepare the bellflowers to remove their bitterness while retaining their aroma, using a simple method of rubbing them with salt and letting them rest before rinsing. We’ll also share the perfect ratio for a delicious gochujang-based sweet and sour salad dressing.
Main Ingredients- 300g Bellflower (Doraji)
- 1 Tbsp Salt (for pickling bellflower)
- 1 Cucumber
- 0.5 Tbsp Salt (for pickling cucumber)
- 1/2 Onion
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesilcheong)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Oligosaccharide
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Green Onion
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesilcheong)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Oligosaccharide
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Green Onion
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Carefully prepare the fresh bellflowers, using even the delicate root parts. Fresh bellflowers are relatively easy to peel. Wash off any soil from the outer skin, trim the top, and make a small slit with a knife to easily peel the skin off by rotating it.
Step 2
After peeling, cut the bellflowers into lengths of about 5cm. Then, slice them thinly into rounds. You can further cut these rounds into strips or gently pound them with the flat side of a knife to tenderize them, according to your preference.
Step 3
Place the prepared bellflowers in a bowl, add 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.
Step 4
To remove the bitterness, rub the bellflowers vigorously with your hands while they are in the salt water. Let them sit for about 30 minutes to leach out the bitter taste.
Step 5
Meanwhile, wash the cucumber thoroughly and slice it into half-moons.
Step 6
Sprinkle the sliced cucumber with 0.5 tablespoon of salt and mix well. Let it sit for about 20 minutes to pickle, which will help draw out moisture and make it crispier.
Step 7
While the vegetables are pickling, thinly slice half an onion and finely chop the green onions. Having these prepped will make the mixing process smoother.
Step 8
After 20 minutes, gently squeeze the pickled cucumber with both hands to remove excess water. This step ensures a delightfully crunchy texture.
Step 9
Now, let’s prepare the delicious seasoning. In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of gochugaru, 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 3 tablespoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of plum extract, 0.5 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of oligosaccharide, 2 tablespoons of chopped green onion, 0.5 tablespoon of minced garlic, 0.5 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds. Mix everything thoroughly to create the seasoning paste.
Step 10
Rinse the bellflowers, which were soaked in salt water to remove bitterness, under cold running water. Gently squeeze out any excess water.
Step 11
In a large bowl, add the prepared seasoning paste, the squeezed bellflowers, the crisply pickled cucumbers, and the thinly sliced onion.
Step 12
Gently toss everything together with your hands until well combined and coated with the seasoning. Taste the salad and adjust the sourness and sweetness by adding more sugar or vinegar if needed, to suit your preference. As the weather cools down and transitions into autumn, bellflowers are known for their beneficial saponins that can help with respiratory health. Enjoy this spicy, sour, and sweet bellflower and cucumber salad as a healthy and flavorful side dish to boost your appetite and well-being!
