Quick & Easy 5-Minute Chives Salad (Buchu Geotjeori)
The Ultimate 5-Minute Chives Salad Recipe: Bursting with Flavor! Perfect as a Side Dish for Grilled Meats, Bibimbap Ingredient, or Kimchi Substitute
Wondering what to cook when you’re not particularly hungry? Introducing Buchu Geotjeori (Korean Chives Salad), a versatile side dish that perfectly cuts through the richness of grilled meats, tastes amazing mixed into bibimbap, and serves as an excellent substitute when you’re out of kimchi. This recipe is incredibly simple, requiring only fresh chives and taking just 5 minutes from washing to serving – no other vegetables needed! Unlike commercially available versions, ours gets a deep umami boost from fish sauce, making it a truly addictive dish. It’s so easy, even beginners can master it in no time. Get ready to enjoy the freshest, most flavorful chives salad you’ve ever made!
Main Ingredients- 100g Chives: Use fresh, vibrant chives for the best flavor.
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes): Adds a mild spiciness and vibrant color.
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce (Kkanari Aekjeot): The secret to its savory depth! (You can substitute with other types of fish sauce like anchovy or soy sauce-based fish sauce.)
- 1 Tbsp Maesil Extract (Plum Extract): Provides a sweet and tangy balance.
- 1/3 Tbsp Minced Garlic: Adds a subtle pungent aroma and flavor. (Feel free to add a little more if you love garlic.)
- 1/3 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds: For a nutty aroma and garnish. (Crushing them slightly before adding enhances their nutty flavor.)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes): Adds a mild spiciness and vibrant color.
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce (Kkanari Aekjeot): The secret to its savory depth! (You can substitute with other types of fish sauce like anchovy or soy sauce-based fish sauce.)
- 1 Tbsp Maesil Extract (Plum Extract): Provides a sweet and tangy balance.
- 1/3 Tbsp Minced Garlic: Adds a subtle pungent aroma and flavor. (Feel free to add a little more if you love garlic.)
- 1/3 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds: For a nutty aroma and garnish. (Crushing them slightly before adding enhances their nutty flavor.)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thoroughly wash the fresh chives under running water, ensuring all dirt and debris are removed. Shake off excess water. Cut the chives into bite-sized pieces, about 4-5 cm long. Shorter lengths make them easier to eat.
Step 2
Place the cut chives into a mixing bowl. Add all the prepared seasoning ingredients: gochugaru, fish sauce, maesil extract, minced garlic, and toasted sesame seeds. Adding all seasonings at once is key.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to gently toss the chives with the seasonings. Here’s a crucial tip: Chives have a distinct fresh, slightly grassy flavor that’s their charm. If you were to mash and mix them vigorously like you would with cooked greens, this fresh flavor can become overpowering. Instead, gently toss the chives with the seasonings for about 10 seconds, just enough to lightly coat them. This quick mixing ensures the chives remain crisp and their delicate flavor is preserved. Avoid overmixing to prevent a ‘cooked’ or mushy texture.
Step 4
Freshly made chives salad is, without a doubt, the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats like pork belly (samgyeopsal) or marinated pork ribs (dwaeji galbi), cutting through the richness beautifully. It also makes a fantastic quick bibimbap – just pile it on top of a bowl of rice, drizzle with sesame oil, and mix! And when you’re out of kimchi, this chives salad is a brilliant stand-in. Enjoy it in multiple ways!
