Savory Pan-Seared Zucchini Salad: A Flavorful Side Dish to Awaken Your Appetite
Making a Delicious Side Dish with Simple Pan-Seared Zucchini Salad
This week felt like it flew by, perhaps because of the holiday. I had so much to do, but it feels like I’ve only accomplished half of it. Yesterday, it rained, and today the weather is cloudy, which brought on a headache, so I spent the morning resting. Since the morning was a wash, I had a busy afternoon. I needed to make a side dish for dinner, so I rummaged through the fridge and found some zucchini. I decided to make this pan-seared zucchini salad.
Ingredients- 1 medium zucchini
- A little chopped green onion
- A little shredded carrot
- Cooking oil
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide (or corn syrup/honey)
- 2 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 1 medium zucchini. Since we’ll be pan-searing it, slice it into thick pieces, about 1 cm (or slightly less than half an inch) thick. Slicing them this way will ensure they don’t get mushy and retain a pleasant texture after cooking.
Step 2
Heat a pan over medium heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Place the sliced zucchini in the hot pan. Sear the zucchini on both sides until golden brown and slightly tender. Be mindful of the heat to prevent burning.
Step 3
While the zucchini is searing, let’s prepare the seasoning sauce. Finely chop some green onion and shred a bit of carrot. In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide, 2 Tbsp perilla oil, and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Mix everything well. Adding carrots will give a nice color and a slight crunch.
Step 4
Transfer the nicely seared zucchini to a serving bowl. Pour the prepared seasoning sauce over the zucchini. I started by adding about 3 tablespoons of the sauce and then adjusted the taste as needed. If you have any leftover sauce, you can save it for another dish tomorrow. Gently toss the zucchini with the sauce until evenly coated. Your delicious pan-seared zucchini salad is now ready!
