Familiar & Delicious Korean Home-Style Side Dishes: Stir-Fried Sea Mustard Stems & More
Comforting Home Side Dishes We Love to Eat
Familiar dishes are often the ones we crave most. Here’s a collection of our favorite homemade side dishes, perfect for any meal, especially on busy weekends.
Sweet & Savory Braised Pumpkin- 1/2 small pumpkin
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Chewy Stir-Fried Sea Mustard Stems- 100g sea mustard stems
- 1/2 onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 green chili peppers
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- Minced garlic, to taste
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Crisp & Spicy Seasoned Bean Sprouts- 1 bag (350g) bean sprouts
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce
- 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- Minced garlic, to taste
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Aromatic Stir-Fried Shiitake Mushrooms- 6 shiitake mushrooms
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 green chili pepper
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 2 Tbsp water
- Minced garlic, to taste
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Nutty Seasoned Dried Squid Strips with Pine Nuts- 50g dried squid strips
- 20g pine nuts
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Crispy Stir-Fried Anchovies and Garlic- 150g dried anchovies (for broth)
- 10 cloves garlic
- 2 red chili peppers
- 2 green chili peppers
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of cooking oil
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
- 100g sea mustard stems
- 1/2 onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 green chili peppers
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- Minced garlic, to taste
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Crisp & Spicy Seasoned Bean Sprouts- 1 bag (350g) bean sprouts
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce
- 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- Minced garlic, to taste
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Aromatic Stir-Fried Shiitake Mushrooms- 6 shiitake mushrooms
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 green chili pepper
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 2 Tbsp water
- Minced garlic, to taste
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Nutty Seasoned Dried Squid Strips with Pine Nuts- 50g dried squid strips
- 20g pine nuts
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Crispy Stir-Fried Anchovies and Garlic- 150g dried anchovies (for broth)
- 10 cloves garlic
- 2 red chili peppers
- 2 green chili peppers
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of cooking oil
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
- 6 shiitake mushrooms
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 green chili pepper
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 2 Tbsp water
- Minced garlic, to taste
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Nutty Seasoned Dried Squid Strips with Pine Nuts- 50g dried squid strips
- 20g pine nuts
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Crispy Stir-Fried Anchovies and Garlic- 150g dried anchovies (for broth)
- 10 cloves garlic
- 2 red chili peppers
- 2 green chili peppers
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of cooking oil
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
- 150g dried anchovies (for broth)
- 10 cloves garlic
- 2 red chili peppers
- 2 green chili peppers
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Pinch of cooking oil
- Pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
[Braised Pumpkin] Prepare the pumpkin by cutting it into bite-sized pieces after removing the seeds. Place the pumpkin in a pot, cover with water, and boil until tender. 
Step 2
Once the pumpkin is cooked, drain the excess water. In the same pot, combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp plum extract, and 2 Tbsp water, then simmer until the sauce thickens. Finish by stirring in 2 Tbsp honey, a pinch of toasted sesame seeds, and a pinch of sesame oil for a glossy finish.
Step 3
[Stir-Fried Sea Mustard Stems] Rinse the sea mustard stems thoroughly under running water to remove excess salt. Soaking them in cold water for about 10 minutes can help further reduce saltiness. Slice the onion thinly and thinly slice the red and green chili peppers diagonally. 
Step 4
Heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sea mustard stems and sliced onion, and stir-fry until the onion becomes translucent.
Step 5
Add the sliced chili peppers and minced garlic, and continue to stir-fry. Once everything is cooked, add a pinch of toasted sesame seeds and a pinch of sesame oil for a nutty flavor, and your dish is ready.
Step 6
[Seasoned Bean Sprouts] Wash and prepare the bean sprouts. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the bean sprouts, and cook for about 5 minutes. Drain the bean sprouts well. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce, 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes, minced garlic to taste, a pinch of toasted sesame seeds, and a pinch of sesame oil. Gently mix everything together until well coated for a delicious result. 
Step 7
[Stir-Fried Shiitake Mushrooms] Remove the tough stems from the shiitake mushrooms and slice them into bite-sized pieces. Deseed the red and green chili peppers and slice them diagonally. (You can also add sliced onion if you like.) 
Step 8
In a pan, combine 2 Tbsp water and 2 Tbsp plum extract and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and minced garlic and stir-fry. When the mushrooms are partially cooked, add the sliced chili peppers and stir-fry together.
Step 9
Add 2 Tbsp soy sauce to season, and finish by drizzling with a pinch of toasted sesame seeds and a pinch of sesame oil for an aromatic touch.
Step 10
[Seasoned Dried Squid Strips with Pine Nuts] In a small pot, combine 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp water, and 2 Tbsp plum extract and bring to a boil. Once the sauce is boiling, add 20g of pine nuts and 50g of dried squid strips (torn into pieces). 
Step 11
Turn off the heat and gently mix the pine nuts and squid strips in the residual heat until the sauce is absorbed. Finish by stirring in 1 Tbsp honey, a pinch of toasted sesame seeds, and a pinch of sesame oil for a nutty and savory dish.
Step 12
[Stir-Fried Anchovies and Garlic] Slice the garlic thinly or leave them whole. Slice the red and green chili peppers diagonally. Heat a small amount of cooking oil in a pan over low heat and gently cook the sliced garlic until fragrant and lightly golden. Once the garlic is aromatic, add the dried anchovies and stir-fry together. 
Step 13
Add 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp water, and 2 Tbsp plum extract, and stir-fry the anchovies and garlic. Stir-fry until the anchovies are lightly golden, then add the sliced chili peppers and cook for a short while longer.
Step 14
Turn off the heat and finish by stirring in 1 Tbsp honey, a pinch of toasted sesame seeds, and a pinch of sesame oil for a sweet and nutty flavor. Be careful not to overcook the anchovies, as they can become too hard.
