Spicy & Sweet Summer Delight: Tomato Salad Recipe
Jeon Hyun-moo’s Super Simple Tomato Salad: A Refreshing Recipe to Awaken Your Summer Appetite
For all you tomato lovers out there, you can’t miss out on Jeon Hyun-moo’s signature tomato salad! If you found the lack of detailed measurements and ingredient breakdowns in ‘I Live Alone’ disappointing, we’ve prepared a detailed recipe so you can follow along and recreate it perfectly. Enjoy this sweet and tangy tomato salad, a perfect dish for those summer days when your appetite feels a bit dull!
Main Ingredients
- 3 ripe tomatoes (large size, or 4 medium-sized)
- 1/2 medium onion
Seasoning Ingredients
- 2-3 Tbsp fine gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (maesil cheong)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
Optional Additions (for enhanced flavor)
- 1 Cheongyang chili pepper (for spiciness)
- 1/2 stalk green onion or 1 handful of Korean chives (for freshness and mildness)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2-3 Tbsp fine gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (maesil cheong)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
Optional Additions (for enhanced flavor)
- 1 Cheongyang chili pepper (for spiciness)
- 1/2 stalk green onion or 1 handful of Korean chives (for freshness and mildness)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare your ripe tomatoes. About 3 large or 4 medium-sized tomatoes are ideal. Since we’ll be using the skin, first sprinkle them with baking soda and gently scrub the skins with a soft brush to clean them thoroughly. Rinse under running water several times, then soak them in clean water for about 5 minutes, and finally rinse again and pat dry.
Step 2
While the tomatoes are soaking, let’s quickly make the delicious seasoning. Prepare 3 tablespoons of fine gochugaru. If you’re using coarse gochugaru, it’s best to sift it through a fine-mesh sieve to use only the fine flakes.
Step 3
To the fine gochugaru, add 2 tablespoons of fish sauce (you can use anchovy, sand lance, or crab fish sauce) and 2 tablespoons of sweet plum extract. Mix them well. Any type of fish sauce will work well here.
Step 4
At this stage, the fish sauce helps to mellow out any raw ‘green’ taste from the gochugaru and adds a savory depth. Let it sit for a moment to allow the flavors to meld together.
Step 5
Now, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and 0.5 tablespoon of sugar. Stir everything together until the seasoning paste is well combined. It’s intended to be a bit thick, anticipating the moisture that will be released from the tomatoes, so don’t worry if it seems a little dry initially.
Step 6
While the seasoning is resting, it’s time to prepare the tomatoes. Jeon Hyun-moo diced them, but feel free to cut them into wedges or half-moons, depending on your preference. Cutting them into attractive shapes will make the dish even more appealing.
Step 7
Gently scoop out the seeds and the jelly-like center from the tomatoes. Since this is a ‘겉절이’ (geotjeori – a fresh, unfermented kimchi), reducing the excess moisture is key for a good texture, so scooping out the seeds helps achieve this.
Step 8
Don’t discard the scooped-out tomato pulp! You can save it to drink as tomato juice later, or use it to make a refreshing gazpacho (Spanish cold tomato soup).
Step 9
Slice the onion thinly lengthwise, to match the size of your tomato pieces. This slicing method ensures a pleasant texture when eaten together with the tomatoes.
Step 10
Add the sliced half onion to the bowl with the prepared tomatoes and gently mix them together.
Step 11
Now, pour the prepared seasoning over the tomatoes and onions. Gently toss everything together until well combined, and your delicious tomato salad is ready! Because the tomatoes have less moisture, they won’t easily break apart, so you can mix them without being overly delicate.
Step 12
Finally, add any optional ingredients to suit your taste. If you like it spicy, finely chop and add 1 Cheongyang chili pepper. If you prefer less heat, add a handful of chopped green onions or Korean chives for a fragrant touch and to balance the flavors. For an extra nutty aroma, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Enjoy your flavorful tomato salad!
