Spring Seasonal Delight: Refreshing and Tangy Raw Skate Salad
A Deliciously Fresh Skate Salad, Perfect for Enjoying its Seasonal Best
The perfect remedy for a lackluster appetite! This recipe features fresh skate, abundant in the spring season, tossed in a delightful sweet and tangy sauce. Unlike fermented rays or skates, raw skate can be enjoyed immediately, preserving its pristine, fresh flavor. We started by cutting it generously, then trimmed it further with scissors for easier eating – a good choice for presentation and taste! This skate salad pairs wonderfully with grilled pork belly and fresh oysters, creating a delightful ‘samhap’ (three-harmony) experience. Leftover sauce mixed with rice is also a delicious treat! Revitalize your taste buds with this spring skate salad, packed with seasonal goodness. Detailed steps and tips are included to make it easy for anyone to follow.
Main Ingredients- 4 pieces of fresh skate
- 200g radish
- A small amount of carrot
- 1 handful of balloon flower root (or your favorite vegetable)
- 3 cheongyang chili peppers
Seasoning- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- A pinch of sea salt (for seasoning)
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 5 tsp 3x concentrated vinegar (or 15 tsp regular vinegar)
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- A little chopped green onion
- A little toasted sesame seeds
- A little sesame oil
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- A pinch of sea salt (for seasoning)
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 5 tsp 3x concentrated vinegar (or 15 tsp regular vinegar)
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- A little chopped green onion
- A little toasted sesame seeds
- A little sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare and salt the vegetables. Julienne the radish into thin strips and similarly slice the carrot. Rinse the balloon flower root thoroughly in water to remove any bitterness. Finely chop the cheongyang chili peppers for a touch of heat. Lightly salt the julienned radish and balloon flower root separately to draw out moisture; let them sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse them briefly under cold water and squeeze out excess water to maintain a crisp texture.
Step 2
If your fresh skate is already cleaned, use it as is. Otherwise, rinse it thoroughly under running water. Remove any bones or fins and cut it into bite-sized pieces. We initially cut them large for a generous feel, but re-cutting them with scissors makes them more manageable and visually appealing. If there are any bones, remove them, leaving only the flesh.
Step 3
Lightly salt the cut skate pieces. While fresh skate has a naturally chewy texture, salting it briefly prevents it from becoming too mushy. Sprinkle a small amount of salt (not included in the main recipe) over the skate and let it sit for about 5 minutes. This helps firm up the flesh and reduces any fishy odor. After salting, rinse lightly under cold water and drain well.
Step 4
Now, let’s make the delicious seasoning. In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp gochujang, 3 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp honey, 5 tsp 3x concentrated vinegar, 3 Tbsp gochugaru, and 1 Tbsp minced garlic. Mix them well. You can adjust the sweet and sour balance to your preference. Stir until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Step 5
Add the salted skate and the squeezed vegetables (radish, balloon flower root, carrot, chili peppers) to the prepared seasoning. Also, add the chopped green onion and toasted sesame seeds at this stage. Ensure the seasoning coats all the ingredients evenly.
Step 6
Gently toss and mix everything together. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the skate or vegetables mushy. The key is to gently combine them so the sauce evenly coats every piece. Drizzle with a little sesame oil at the end for extra nutty aroma.
Step 7
Transfer the beautifully tossed skate salad to a serving dish. You can enjoy it immediately, or chill it in the refrigerator for an even more refreshing taste. Serve it alongside freshly grilled pork belly or fresh oysters for a splendid meal. Mixing leftover sauce with rice is also a fantastic idea! Enjoy your delicious creation.
