Crisp and Fresh Lettuce Salad Recipe
Super Simple Lettuce Salad: A Golden Recipe in 5 Minutes!
Introducing a quick and easy lettuce salad recipe, perfect for those days when you’re unsure what to cook or have no side dishes ready. The crisp texture of fresh lettuce combined with a sweet and tangy dressing creates a delightful dish that awakens your appetite. It’s delicious mixed with warm rice and pairs exceptionally well with rich, oily meat dishes, cutting through the richness. This recipe is so simple to make, loved by everyone from solo dwellers to seasoned home cooks. Add some vibrancy to your mealtime with this fresh lettuce salad!
Fresh Ingredients- Lettuce, 250g (a generous handful)
- 1 small onion (or 1/4 of a regular onion)
- Scallions, a small bunch
- 1 red chili pepper (for color)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
Flavorful Dressing- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (or Korean soup soy sauce)
- 1.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (adjust for spice)
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (for sweetness and umami)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup or oligosaccharide syrup (for gloss and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (for nutty aroma)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor and texture)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (or Korean soup soy sauce)
- 1.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (adjust for spice)
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (for sweetness and umami)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup or oligosaccharide syrup (for gloss and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (for nutty aroma)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor and texture)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the fresh lettuce thoroughly under running water. To remove any bitterness and ensure maximum freshness, soak the lettuce in cold water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar for about 10 minutes. After soaking, rinse the lettuce clean and drain it well in a colander. Don’t worry if it’s not completely dry.
Step 2
Once drained, prepare the lettuce by tearing it into bite-sized pieces. Tearing the leaves by hand helps the dressing adhere better and results in a softer texture. You can also cut it with a knife, but tearing by hand is recommended! If there’s still a lot of water clinging to the leaves, gently pat them dry with your hands.
Step 3
Trim the root ends of the scallions, wash them, and thinly slice them into 2-3 cm lengths. Thin slicing ensures they blend well with the dressing.
Step 4
Peel and thinly julienne the onion. This recipe uses a very small, pickle-sized onion; if using a regular onion, about 1/4 of it, thinly julienned, would be appropriate. If you find raw onion too pungent, soak the julienned onion in cold water for a few minutes before use.
Step 5
Remove the stem from the red chili pepper and slice it thinly into rounds. The red chili adds a vibrant color, making the dish look more appealing.
Step 6
Now, let’s make the delicious dressing. In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, red pepper flakes, plum extract, corn syrup (or oligosaccharide), minced garlic, perilla oil, and toasted sesame seeds. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined. Ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Step 7
Add the prepared lettuce, scallions, julienned onion, and sliced red chili pepper to the bowl with the dressing. Pour the dressing evenly over the vegetables.
Step 8
The key to mixing this lettuce salad is to be gentle! To maintain the crispness of the lettuce, avoid pressing down too hard or mashing the ingredients. Toss them lightly, as if lifting them, to combine everything without wilting the leaves. This ensures a fresh and crunchy texture. Over-mixing will make the lettuce soggy and diminish the flavor.
Step 9
Once nicely mixed, transfer the fresh lettuce salad to a serving dish. Enjoy your delicious and crisp lettuce salad! It’s especially delightful served with a bowl of warm rice.
