Plump & Fresh Oyster Salad (Gulmuchim) Recipe
Make Delicious Oyster Salad with Seasonal Oysters! A Perfect Pairing with Bossam (Boiled Pork Wraps).
A flavorful oyster salad made with plenty of seasonal oysters! This is a true rice thief.
Oyster Salad Ingredients- Fresh Oysters 500g
- Korean Radish (Mu) 200g
- Coarse Sea Salt 1 Tbsp (for salting radish)
- Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes) 5 Tbsp
- Saeujeot (Salted Shrimp) 1 Tbsp (minced)
- Anchovy Sauce or Fisfh Sauce 1 1/2 Tbsp
- Sider Drink 1 Cup (for radish sweetness and tenderizing)
- Sugar 3 Tbsp
- Minced Garlic 2 Tbsp
- Scallions 1 handful (or perilla leaves, napa cabbage, etc.)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Add fish sauce to the seasoning mix to enhance the savory depth of the oyster salad. You can use either anchovy sauce or generic fish sauce; both work well. It will add a rich flavor while complementing the ingredients’ natural taste.
Step 2
Making the seasoning mix in advance allows the sugar to dissolve thoroughly and meld with the other ingredients, resulting in a much richer flavor. I found that preparing the sauce the night before significantly improved the taste the next day. If you have time, try letting the seasoning mature for about a day.
Step 3
Instead of washing oysters under running water, use chopsticks to gently agitate them, minimizing any damage. Soak the oysters in water with 1 Tbsp of coarse sea salt for about 5 minutes, then lightly rinse and drain them thoroughly. This process removes impurities, keeps the oysters plump, and reduces any fishy odor. Grate the radish using a box grater; incorporating the grated radish into the washing process helps tenderize the oysters and remove any lingering brininess due to its natural enzymes.
Step 4
After soaking in grated radish for 5 minutes, you’ll notice impurities rising to the surface. Packaged oysters are often pre-washed, but it’s best to choose those with clear liquid to ensure freshness. As time passes, glycogen content in oysters can decrease, causing the liquid to become cloudy. If buying packaged oysters, always look for the clearest liquid. Ordering directly from the source yields larger and fresher oysters, making the dish exceptionally satisfying.
Step 5
Discard the cloudy liquid tinged with radish juice. Rinse the oysters gently with clean water about twice, then drain them thoroughly in a colander. Ensuring the oysters are well-drained is crucial to prevent them from becoming mushy.
Step 6
Aromatic herbs like scallions or perilla leaves enhance the oyster’s oceanic aroma. For a touch of sweetness and a refreshing crunch, you can thinly slice apples or pears. I had leftover apples in my fridge, and though I added them later, they tasted delicious! Feel free to add fruits like these for extra flavor.
Step 7
Slice the radish into pieces slightly thicker than 0.5cm. This thickness ensures the radish remains crisp even after being salted and mixed. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp of coarse sea salt over the sliced radish and let it sit for about 10 minutes to salt.
Step 8
Crisp radish and fresh oysters are a perfect match. Don’t skip the radish in your Gulmuchim! After salting the radish for 10 minutes, squeeze out the excess water without rinsing – absolutely no rinsing is needed! This step softens the radish while preserving its pleasant crunch.
Step 9
Be careful not to overmix when adding the seasoning directly to the oysters and vegetables, as this can cause the oysters to break apart. It’s best to first coat the salted radish with the seasoning, then gently fold in the oysters and prepared vegetables. Oysters can release water if bruised, and the radish and vegetables can also become watery after being dressed in seasoning, so it’s recommended to mix everything just before serving. Once the radish is evenly coated and appears red, gently toss in the oysters and vegetables.
Step 10
Gently mixing with scallions allows the seasoning to adhere evenly. For an extra crunch, try tearing and adding crisp baby napa cabbage – it makes the salad even more delicious! Feel free to customize your oyster salad by adding other vegetables or fruits.
