Crisp and Refreshing Summer Radish Salad (Mu Saengchae)
Make Delicious Summer Mu Saengchae! [Cool & Refreshing Dish]
With vegetable prices being quite high, and with 겉절이 (fresh kimchi) not always needed, I decided to make some mu saengchae using radishes, which are relatively more affordable. To compensate for the blandness of plain radish, I mixed in bean sprouts for added texture and flavor. You can also check out the video recipe at https://youtu.be/q_FOcZ94o2c.
Ingredients- 1/3 Korean radish (approx. 300-400g)
- 300g bean sprouts
- 25g chives
- 1 red chili pepper
Seasoning- 2 Tbsp chili powder (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 1.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (maesil cheong)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (ground or whole)
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp chili powder (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 1.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (maesil cheong)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (ground or whole)
- A drizzle of sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients by washing them thoroughly. The red chili pepper is optional; if you prefer it spicier, you can add a green chili pepper instead or in addition.
Step 2
Peel the radish and julienne it into very thin, fine shreds. Finely chop the red chili pepper after deseeding it, and also finely chop the chives. Mince the garlic as well.
Step 3
Place the julienned radish in a bowl and add 1/2 Tbsp of sugar and 1/2 Tbsp of fine salt. Gently mix and let it sit for about 15 minutes to salt and soften the radish.
Step 4
Blanch the bean sprouts in boiling water until they are tender-crisp, then immediately rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking and maintain their crunchiness.
Step 5
Squeeze out the excess water from the salted radish. Drain the blanched bean sprouts thoroughly to remove any excess water. Have all prepared ingredients ready for mixing.
Step 6
In a large bowl, combine the squeezed radish and drained bean sprouts. Add all the seasoning ingredients (chili powder, vinegar, fish sauce, minced garlic, plum extract) and gently toss to coat everything evenly.
Step 7
Finally, add the sesame seeds and sesame oil. Mix lightly. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding a pinch of salt if necessary. You can adjust the amount of vinegar and sugar to your personal preference for a perfect balance of flavors. Enjoy your delicious and refreshing mu saengchae!
