Spicy & Sweet Spring Garlic Salad with Gochujang
How to Make a Delicious Spring Garlic Salad with Gochujang
Put away the pickled garlic! Try this spring garlic salad with gochujang for a delightful crunchy texture and a perfect balance of spicy and sweet flavors. It’s a simple spring garlic dish that anyone can easily make with basic ingredients.
Main Ingredients- 300g Spring Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Salt (for blanching)
- Water (as needed for blanching)
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the fresh spring garlic. Spring garlic from rural areas might be tender and small. If you have larger spring garlic, check for soil between the leaves and stems, and wash them thoroughly under running water. Pay extra attention to cleaning the leafy parts.
Step 2
Once cleaned, cut the spring garlic into bite-sized pieces, separating the white stem parts from the green leafy parts. You can adjust the length to your preference, but about 3-4 cm is a good starting point.
Step 3
Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 tablespoon of salt. Adding salt helps maintain the vibrant green color of the garlic and adds a subtle seasoning.
Step 4
When the water is boiling, add the white stem parts of the spring garlic first. Blanch them for about 15-20 seconds to keep them crisp. The key is to maintain a crunchy texture.
Step 5
Next, add the green leafy parts of the spring garlic and blanch for another 10-15 seconds. Immediately rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and preserve their crispness. Before squeezing, firmly press the spring garlic with both hands to remove excess water. Removing as much water as possible is crucial for the dressing to adhere well and prevent the salad from becoming watery.
Step 6
In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds to make the seasoning. You can adjust the amount of sugar to your taste.
Step 7
Add the well-drained spring garlic to the prepared seasoning. Gently toss and mix to ensure the dressing coats the spring garlic evenly. Mix ‘jobal-jobal’ (a gentle kneading motion) until well combined. You can sprinkle a little extra sesame seeds on top at the end for added flavor and visual appeal.
