Spicy & Tangy Stir-Fried Pickled Garlic Buds: A Delectable Side Dish
Elevate Your Pickled Garlic Buds with This Delicious Stir-Fry!
I made this seasoned pickled garlic bud dish from leftover whole pickled garlic buds I had stored. Initially, I just ate them as is, but I got a little tired of them, so I decided to transform them into a flavorful side dish for everyday meals. This recipe adds a delightful kick and balanced flavor profile.
Main Ingredients- Whole pickled garlic buds 250g (discard or reserve the pickling liquid separately)
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion (white part only, finely minced)
- 1 tsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tsp soy sauce for seasoning (or use some of the pickling liquid, adjusted for saltiness)
- 1 tsp sugar (adjust sweetness to your preference)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion (white part only, finely minced)
- 1 tsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tsp soy sauce for seasoning (or use some of the pickling liquid, adjusted for saltiness)
- 1 tsp sugar (adjust sweetness to your preference)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the whole pickled garlic buds you made last year. Discard the salty pickling liquid. Gently rinse the pickled garlic buds under cold running water to slightly reduce the intense saltiness and flavor of the brine. After rinsing, drain them thoroughly in a colander to remove excess water. (Alternatively, you can skip rinsing if you prefer a stronger flavor, but rinsing is recommended if the sourness from vinegar is too pronounced.)
Step 2
Prepare the green onions to add aromatic flavor to your side dish. Finely mince only the white parts of the green onions. The white parts are sweeter and milder, making them ideal for seasoned dishes.
Step 3
To the drained pickled garlic buds, add the minced green onions, gochugaru, soy sauce (or pickling liquid), sugar, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds. It’s important to adjust the amount of sugar according to your personal preference for sweetness. Consider the natural sweetness and saltiness of the pickled garlic itself when balancing the seasonings.
Step 4
Gently toss the pickled garlic buds with the prepared seasonings until everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the garlic buds; handle them delicately. Continue to mix until all ingredients are well combined and the flavors have melded.
Step 5
The pungent, yet delightfully tangy and sweet pickled garlic buds are now elevated with a touch of spice, creating an even more complex and delicious flavor. This makes a perfect side dish to accompany a bowl of rice, especially when you need an appetite stimulant. While it’s delicious immediately, allowing it to rest in the refrigerator for a short while will help the flavors deepen and meld even further.