Spicy Pickled Plum Salad (Maesil Jangajji Muchim)
A Quick and Delicious Pickled Plum Salad Recipe for Summer Side Dishes
Introducing a super simple recipe for Pickled Plum Salad (Maesil Jangajji Muchim) that uses pickled plums, which stay delightfully crunchy even after a long time. I had some leftover pickled plums from 2014 that were still wonderfully crisp, so I decided to toss them with a simple gochujang-based seasoning. The sweet, savory, and spicy flavors are perfect for stimulating your appetite on days when you don’t feel like eating. It’s also delicious served over rice, mixed into rice balls, or as a filling for wrap sandwiches. Enjoy this healthy and flavorful side dish made with plums, known for their fatigue-fighting and detoxifying properties!
Ingredients- 100g Pickled Plums (Maesil Jangajji), drained
- 0.7 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 0.7 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 0.5 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the star ingredient: the pickled plums. Take about 100g of the pickled plums you made back in 2014 from a small jar and lightly drain any excess liquid. (If you are pickling fresh plums, ensure they are well-fermented for that signature chewy texture.)
Step 2
In a bowl, combine the 100g of drained pickled plums with 0.7 Tbsp of gochujang and 0.5 Tbsp of minced garlic. The amount of gochujang can be adjusted based on the saltiness of your pickled plums and your personal preference. (A photo for adding minced garlic was omitted, but be sure to include it!)
Step 3
Gently mix and toss the ingredients in the bowl until well combined. If you have a small amount, using a spoon to ensure the seasoning coats everything evenly works well. Since you’ll be eating it right away, drizzle in 0.5 Tbsp of sesame oil for added fragrance.
Step 4
Your delicious Pickled Plum Salad, with its satisfying crunchy texture, is now ready! Transfer it to a nice serving dish and sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds for a visually appealing and flavorful side dish.
Step 5
This prepared salad is perfect served over rice. It’s also incredibly delicious when incorporated into rice balls (jumeokbap). For example, adding it as a filling when making perilla leaf wraps (kkokkye teul ssam bap) will add a delightful crunch and enhance the overall flavor.
Step 6
If you’re experiencing a loss of appetite, try this: pour cool water or broth over leftover rice to make a simple rice soup. With just this pickled plum salad on the side, you won’t need any other side dishes – it makes for a wonderfully satisfying meal.
Step 7
Plums are rich in various organic acids, including citric acid, and vitamins, which aid in fatigue recovery. They also possess excellent detoxifying and antiseptic properties, earning them the nickname ‘green tonic.’ (Source: Naver Encyclopedia). When you’re short on side dishes, taking out a small portion and mixing it like this makes for an excellent, quick banchan. #SideDish #Banchan #PickledPlumSalad #HomeCooking
