Dongchimi Radish Salad (Radish Salad with Dongchimi Brine)
A Special Side Dish! Dongchimi Radish Salad!
Try making a delicious salad using the dongchimi radishes you prepared during kimchi making! This dish offers a different texture and flavor profile than regular radish salad, making it a truly special side dish.
Main Ingredients- 3 Dongchimi radishes
- A small amount of the white part of green onion
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- A pinch of salt (to taste)
- 1.5 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- A pinch of salt (to taste)
- 1.5 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the dongchimi radishes thoroughly. Slice them into julienne strips, about 0.5cm thick. Cutting them slightly thicker than usual will help maintain a good crunch. Soak the julienned radishes in cold water for about 10-15 minutes to remove excess saltiness and any subtle brine flavor from the dongchimi.
Step 2
Take the white parts of the green onion, wash them well, and mince them very finely. Finely minced green onion will help the seasoning to be evenly distributed.
Step 3
Place the drained dongchimi radish juliennes into a cheesecloth, fine mesh bag, or a broth bag. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible by pressing firmly with your hands. Thoroughly squeezing out the water is key to achieving a chewy and crisp texture in the finished dish. Aim to squeeze until it resembles rehydrated dried radish (musaengchae).
Step 4
You’ll notice that the squeezed radish strips have a wonderfully chewy texture, much like rehydrated dried radish. Achieving this level of dryness requires considerable effort and a firm hand, but it results in a truly delicious outcome! (A fun tip: imagine squeezing out someone who is bothering you for extra force!)
Step 5
In a mixing bowl, combine the well-squeezed radish strips with the minced green onion, gochugaru, minced garlic, sugar, and sesame oil. *Adjust the saltiness by tasting the radishes first, as they may still retain some saltiness from the dongchimi brine. Feel free to adjust the sugar to your preferred sweetness level.
Step 6
Mix everything vigorously with your hands to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the radish. It’s important to mix with some force to allow the flavors to meld well. Finish by sprinkling toasted sesame seeds on top. Your delicious and texturally delightful Dongchimi Radish Salad is now ready!
