Spicy and Sweet Pickled Radish Salad (Dongchimi Muchim)
Delicious Way to Use Pickled Radishes: Dongchimi Muchim
Don’t throw away your leftover dongchimi (Korean watery radish kimchi) or the radishes from it! This Dongchimi Muchim, a refreshing salad made with pickled radishes, offers a delightful crunchy texture and a perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors. It makes an excellent side dish that the whole family can enjoy. Here’s a simple recipe.
Main Ingredients- 531g Dongchimi radish (use only the radish, drain the brine)
Seasoning Ingredients- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (deulkireum)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1.5 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (deulkireum)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1.5 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Since dongchimi radishes can be quite salty, first soak them in cold water for about 30 minutes to reduce the saltiness. This step helps to mellow out the brine’s strong flavor, making the salad more palatable. Once soaked, drain the radishes and cut them into thin julienne strips. Avoid cutting them too thinly, as this can affect the pleasant crunch.
Step 2
In a bowl with the julienned radishes, add the gochugaru, perilla oil, and sugar. Gochugaru provides a vibrant color and a touch of heat, while perilla oil adds a nutty aroma. Sugar balances the flavors and enhances the tanginess.
Step 3
Next, add the minced garlic. Because the dongchimi radishes are already seasoned, you generally won’t need to add any extra salt. In fact, adding salt might make it too salty, so be cautious. Gently mix the ingredients to combine.
Step 4
Now, gently toss and mix everything with your hands until the seasonings are well distributed throughout the radishes. It’s important to mix gently to maintain the radishes’ crisp texture. Finally, sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds for added nutty flavor. Your refreshing and crunchy Dongchimi Muchim is ready! It’s delicious served immediately or chilled from the refrigerator for an even more invigorating taste.
