5 Essential Side Dishes for a Well-Stocked Fridge
Homemade Side Dishes: 5 Must-Try Recipes for Your Weekly Meal Prep
It’s side dish day! Let’s make 5 essential homemade side dishes using ingredients you already have in your fridge: Chive Salad, Stir-Fried Enoki Mushrooms, Stir-Fried Cabbage, Soy-Braised Eggs, and Napa Cabbage & Bitter Greens Salad. Prepare them once a week, and you’ll have a satisfying spread ready to go!
Fresh Chive Salad- 150g fresh chives
- 1 Tbsp anchovy sauce (fish sauce)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Aromatic Stir-Fried Enoki Mushrooms- 1 pack (100g) enoki mushrooms
- 1/3 carrot
- 1/2 onion
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Herb salt, to taste
- Cooking oil, as needed
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Sweet Stir-Fried Cabbage- 200g cabbage
- 1/3 carrot
- 3 Korean green chili peppers (kkori gochu)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Herb salt, to taste
- Cooking oil, as needed
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Savory Soy-Braised Eggs- 6 eggs
- 2/3 cup soy sauce (approx. 130ml)
- 2/3 cup mirin (rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp oligodang (oligosaccharide syrup) (approx. 30ml)
- A handful of chives, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Refreshing Napa Cabbage & Bitter Greens Salad- 100g baby napa cabbage
- A handful of bitter greens (wash thoroughly)
- 2 cups kimchi seasoning paste
- 2 Tbsp orange juice (approx. 30ml)
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 1 pack (100g) enoki mushrooms
- 1/3 carrot
- 1/2 onion
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Herb salt, to taste
- Cooking oil, as needed
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Sweet Stir-Fried Cabbage- 200g cabbage
- 1/3 carrot
- 3 Korean green chili peppers (kkori gochu)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Herb salt, to taste
- Cooking oil, as needed
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Savory Soy-Braised Eggs- 6 eggs
- 2/3 cup soy sauce (approx. 130ml)
- 2/3 cup mirin (rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp oligodang (oligosaccharide syrup) (approx. 30ml)
- A handful of chives, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Refreshing Napa Cabbage & Bitter Greens Salad- 100g baby napa cabbage
- A handful of bitter greens (wash thoroughly)
- 2 cups kimchi seasoning paste
- 2 Tbsp orange juice (approx. 30ml)
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 6 eggs
- 2/3 cup soy sauce (approx. 130ml)
- 2/3 cup mirin (rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp oligodang (oligosaccharide syrup) (approx. 30ml)
- A handful of chives, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Refreshing Napa Cabbage & Bitter Greens Salad- 100g baby napa cabbage
- A handful of bitter greens (wash thoroughly)
- 2 cups kimchi seasoning paste
- 2 Tbsp orange juice (approx. 30ml)
- Sesame oil, to taste
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start with the Chive Salad. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of coarse salt. Blanch the chives for just 10-20 seconds – be careful not to overcook them, or they’ll become mushy. Immediately rinse them under cold water, squeeze out any excess moisture, and cut them into 3-4 cm lengths.
Step 2
In a bowl, combine the chopped chives with 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp anchovy sauce, a drizzle of sesame oil, and a pinch of toasted sesame seeds. Gently toss everything together until well combined. Avoid over-mixing to keep the chives from becoming bruised.
Step 3
Transfer the nicely mixed chive salad to a container and store it in the refrigerator.
Step 4
Next, let’s prepare the ingredients for the Stir-Fried Enoki Mushrooms and Stir-Fried Cabbage. Trim the root ends of the enoki mushrooms and separate them into strands. Thinly slice the carrot and onion. Trim the stems off the Korean green chili peppers and cut them into 2-3 cm pieces. (You can prep the cabbage for the other stir-fry at this stage too for efficiency.)
Step 5
Heat a pan over medium heat and add cooking oil. Sauté the minced garlic, sliced carrots, and onions until fragrant. Then, add the enoki mushrooms and stir-fry them together until they begin to soften. (For the cabbage stir-fry, follow the same steps, adding the minced garlic, carrots, and cabbage first, then the green chilies.)
Step 6
Once the enoki mushrooms have wilted slightly, add 1 Tbsp of oyster sauce and stir-fry quickly to coat everything evenly. Finish by drizzling in sesame oil and sprinkling toasted sesame seeds. Season with herb salt if needed, to your preference.
Step 7
For the cabbage stir-fry, continue from step 4. After stir-frying the cabbage and carrots until they begin to turn translucent, add the sliced Korean green chilies and cook for another minute or so.
Step 8
Season the cabbage stir-fry with herb salt. Add the green chilies, sesame oil, and sesame seeds, and toss lightly to combine. This dish offers a wonderful balance of the cabbage’s natural sweetness and the subtle spice of the green peppers.
Step 9
Now, let’s make the delicious Soy-Braised Eggs. Carefully lower the eggs into boiling water and cook for about 6 minutes to achieve a soft-boiled (runny yolk) texture. Immediately transfer them to an ice bath to cool, then gently peel them. A tip for easy peeling: lightly tap the egg all over and then peel it under cool running water.
Step 10
In a small pot, combine 2/3 cup soy sauce, 2/3 cup mirin, 3 Tbsp oligodang, and optionally 1/3 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Using oligodang instead of sugar adds a lovely sheen and a mild sweetness. Once boiling, turn off the heat and stir in the minced garlic and finely chopped chives to create the braising liquid.
Step 11
Carefully place the peeled, soft-boiled eggs into the prepared braising liquid. Cover the pot with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld. Flip the eggs halfway through for even coloring.
Step 12
Finally, let’s prepare the Napa Cabbage & Bitter Greens Salad. Cut the baby napa cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Wash the bitter greens thoroughly and pat them dry. Lightly salt both the cabbage and greens and let them sit for about 5 minutes to wilt slightly. Then, rinse them briefly under cold water and squeeze out any excess moisture.
Step 13
In a bowl, combine the prepared napa cabbage and bitter greens with 2 cups of kimchi seasoning paste and 2 Tbsp of orange juice. The orange juice adds a delightful citrusy note, making it even more refreshing.
Step 14
Add a drizzle of sesame oil and a pinch of toasted sesame seeds, then toss gently to coat everything. This salad is perfectly balanced with a sweet, sour, and slightly spicy flavor profile, and its crisp texture is incredibly satisfying.
Step 15
And there you have it – 5 delicious homemade side dishes! Doesn’t it look satisfying? When you’re tired of the same old side dishes, try making these fresh, homemade options for a delightful meal experience!
