Crisp and Savory Seasoned Bean Sprouts
The Golden Recipe for Extra Crisp Bean Sprout Salad – A Perfect Side Dish
I’ll show you how to make bean sprout salad that is extra crisp and wonderfully savory. The method is incredibly simple.
Main Ingredients
- 300g bean sprouts
- 1 L water
Seasoning
- 0.5 Tbsp tuna extract (or fish sauce)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds (crushed)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 Tbsp minced green onion
- 0.5 Tbsp tuna extract (or fish sauce)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds (crushed)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 Tbsp minced green onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the bean sprouts thoroughly in cold running water three times. After rinsing, it’s important to drain them well in a colander. If there’s residual water, the sprouts can become soggy.
Step 2
Bring 1 L of water to a rolling boil over high heat in a pot. Once boiling, add 1 Tbsp of salt to season the water. This step helps to keep the bean sprouts vibrant in color and maintains their crisp texture.
Step 3
When the water is boiling, add all of the prepared bean sprouts.
Step 4
Gently stir the bean sprouts just once, then immediately turn off the heat. Think of blanching them for only 5 seconds in the boiling water; this is the key! Overcooking will make the bean sprouts soft and lose their crispness.
Step 5
Immediately drain the blanched bean sprouts in a colander and rinse them briefly under cold running water. This stops the cooking process from residual heat and preserves their crunch. After rinsing, squeeze out any excess water thoroughly.
Step 6
Place the drained bean sprouts in a mixing bowl and add all the prepared seasoning ingredients. If you don’t have tuna extract, you can substitute it with 0.5 Tbsp of anchovy sauce (like Kkanari-aekjeot) for a similar umami flavor.
Step 7
For a richer nutty flavor, it’s best to use crushed sesame seeds. Add 1 Tbsp of crushed sesame seeds to the seasoning.
Step 8
Now, gently mix everything together with your hands. Be sure to toss them softly so the seasonings are evenly distributed. Taste and adjust the seasoning with a pinch of salt if needed.
Step 9
This lightly blanched bean sprout salad retains its fantastic crisp texture, and the crushed sesame seeds add a wonderfully savory depth. It’s the perfect side dish for any meal!
