Flavorful Spring Garlic and Gim (Seaweed) Salad: A Delightful Spring Side Dish
The Wonderful Harmony of Fragrant Spring Garlic and Crispy Gim
Recreate the nostalgic spring garlic salad from your childhood with this easy recipe! Enjoy the fresh, aromatic taste and crisp texture of seasonal spring garlic, enhanced by using slightly softened roasted seaweed for an even richer flavor. Adding carrots provides a vibrant splash of color, making this dish even more appealing. It’s truly a rice-stealing side dish!
Main Ingredients- 300g fresh spring garlic
- 1 Tbsp salt (for blanching spring garlic)
- 5 sheets of gim (roasted seaweed, plain or unsalted)
- 50g fresh carrot
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp soup soy sauce (for umami)
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide (for subtle sweetness and shine)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil (for ultimate nuttiness)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds or crushed sesame seeds (for enhanced flavor!)
- 2 Tbsp soup soy sauce (for umami)
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide (for subtle sweetness and shine)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil (for ultimate nuttiness)
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds or crushed sesame seeds (for enhanced flavor!)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 300g of fresh spring garlic, brimming with its crisp, pungent aroma. Choosing fresh garlic is half the battle for deliciousness!
Step 2
The carrot, weighing 50g, will add color. Julienne it into appealing strips using a coarse grater. Slicing them slightly thicker than very thin will maintain a better texture.
Step 3
Get 5 sheets of gim ready for a crispy element. Using gim with a good texture, like ‘Gopchang gim’, will make it even more delicious.
Step 4
Place the 5 sheets of prepared gim in a dry pan without any oil. Roast over medium-low heat, flipping them, until they are crisp. Be careful not to burn them; this is crucial.
Step 5
Once the gim is well-roasted, let it cool slightly. Then, place it in a plastic bag and crush it finely with your hands or a rolling pin. Mixing it gently after crushing will soften it.
Step 6
Trim the roots of the spring garlic and wash it thoroughly, then pat it dry. Make 2-3 shallow cuts into the thicker root ends of the spring garlic; this helps the seasoning penetrate better and enhances the flavor.
Step 7
Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling vigorously, add 1 Tbsp of coarse salt. This salted water will be used for blanching the spring garlic.
Step 8
Add the prepared spring garlic to the boiling salted water, starting with the root ends. Blanch for about 5 seconds, then submerge the leafy parts as well, blanching the entire stalk.
Step 9
Blanch the entire spring garlic for a short total time of 50 seconds in the boiling water. Over-blanching will make it mushy and ruin the texture, so be sure to adhere to the time.
Step 10
Immediately rinse the blanched spring garlic thoroughly under cold running water. This rinsing helps to set the vibrant green color and maintains its crispness.
Step 11
Drain the cold-rinsed spring garlic well in a colander. Any remaining water can dilute the salad’s dressing.
Step 12
Briefly blanch the julienned carrots in the boiling water for about 3 seconds. This slight cooking brings out their sweetness and softens them just enough.
Step 13
Rinse the blanched carrot strips under cold water to preserve their color and remove excess moisture.
Step 14
Cut the thoroughly drained spring garlic into bite-sized pieces, about 4cm long. Pieces that are too long can be difficult to eat.
Step 15
Place the cut spring garlic and blanched carrot strips into a large mixing bowl.
Step 16
Now, sprinkle 2 Tbsp of soup soy sauce and 2 Tbsp of oligosaccharide evenly over the ingredients in the bowl. You don’t need to mix them beforehand; they will combine naturally as you toss the salad.
Step 17
In a separate small bowl, place the crushed gim. Add 2 Tbsp of sesame oil and coat the gim with it first. This step prevents the gim from becoming too soggy and adds a nutty aroma.
Step 18
Add the sesame oil-coated gim to the mixing bowl with the spring garlic and carrots. Don’t forget to add the 2 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds. Now, gently toss everything together to ensure the dressing coats all ingredients evenly.
Step 19
Gently mix the spring garlic, carrots, gim, and seasonings together. Be careful not to overmix; you want to preserve the crispness of the spring garlic.
Step 20
Transfer the deliciously mixed spring garlic and gim salad to a serving plate. Enjoy this fragrant and flavorful seasonal side dish!
