Sweet Fig and Versatile Korean Dressing Salad
A Healthy Fig Salad with a Homemade All-Purpose Korean Dressing
Today, we’re making a delightful fig salad paired with a homemade, all-purpose Korean-style salad dressing. This recipe is perfect for a light meal or appetizer and is sure to please your palate.
Salad Ingredients- 3 fresh figs
- 1/4 onion
- 1/2 handful shredded carrots
- 1 handful red cabbage
- 1 handful cabbage
- 3 large lettuce leaves
- 1/2 cucumber
- A pinch of raisins
- A handful of toasted almonds
All-Purpose Korean Dressing Ingredients- 1 cup soy sauce (standard Korean measure)
- 1 cup brown sugar (standard Korean measure)
- 1 cup vinegar (standard Korean measure, regular vinegar)
- 1/2 onion
- 1/2 apple (skin on)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup soy sauce (standard Korean measure)
- 1 cup brown sugar (standard Korean measure)
- 1 cup vinegar (standard Korean measure, regular vinegar)
- 1/2 onion
- 1/2 apple (skin on)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing the star of our salad: 3 fresh figs. Trim off the stem ends and cut each fig into four wedges. These will add a lovely sweetness and visual appeal.
Step 2
Let’s get the greens ready! Roughly chop the large lettuce leaves. Finely shred the red cabbage, regular cabbage, onion, and carrots into delicate strands. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and then cut it into thin, angled pieces for a beautiful presentation.
Step 3
For added sweetness and texture, rinse the raisins in cool water. Also, have your toasted almonds ready – they bring a wonderful nutty crunch to the salad.
Step 4
To ensure the vegetables are crisp and refreshing, fill a bowl with cold water and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Submerge the prepared shredded vegetables for about 10 minutes. This step helps to revive them and maintain their crunch. Afterwards, rinse them thoroughly under cold water.
Step 5
After rinsing, use a salad spinner to remove as much excess water as possible from the vegetables. Properly draining the greens is crucial to prevent the dressing from becoming watery and to ensure it clings beautifully to the salad.
Step 6
Now, let’s assemble the salad. Pile the well-drained vegetables in the center of a serving bowl, creating a beautiful mound. Arrange the cut fig wedges around the perimeter of the vegetables, making the salad visually appealing.
Step 7
With the vegetables and figs in place, sprinkle the raisins and toasted almonds over the center of the salad. This adds delightful bursts of sweetness and a satisfying nutty texture.
Step 8
It’s time to make our versatile Korean dressing! For the base, measure out 1 cup of soy sauce, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 1 cup of vinegar. We’re using standard Korean paper cup measurements here. Please use regular vinegar, not concentrated double or triple strength vinegar.
Step 9
To add depth and aroma to the dressing, we’ll use half an apple, half an onion, and 3 cloves of peeled garlic. Make sure to wash the apple thoroughly, especially since we’re using the skin.
Step 10
Slice the apple, onion, and garlic into manageable pieces. This will make it easier for the blender to process them into a smooth dressing.
Step 11
Combine all the dressing ingredients – the soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, sliced apple, onion, and garlic – into your blender.
Step 12
Using a high-speed blender, process the mixture until it’s completely smooth and lump-free. A fine, emulsified consistency is what we’re aiming for.
Step 13
There you have it! The ingredients have been blended into a perfectly smooth and appetizing Korean dressing. It looks absolutely delicious!
Step 14
This fig salad with our homemade Korean dressing is a flavor combination that truly suits the Korean palate. If you find traditional oriental dressings a bit too strong or are looking for a change, this is the recipe for you. It offers a familiar yet refreshing taste.
Step 15
You may notice some foam from the blending process. Skim this off with a spoon for a smoother, more refined dressing texture.
Step 16
Finally, generously drizzle the delicious all-purpose Korean dressing over your beautifully arranged fig salad. The blend of sweet figs, crisp vegetables, and the savory-sweet dressing creates a truly delightful culinary experience. Enjoy your meal!
