Spicy & Sweet Versatile Chive Salad
#ChiveSalad #AllPurposeSauce #SpicySweet #TteokgalbiSide #GrilledFishSauce
I prepared this vibrant chive salad to accompany store-bought tteokgalbi (Korean grilled short rib patties) that I cooked in the air fryer. I felt that the chives would be even better with a flavorful dressing. Inspired by a YouTube video, I realized that adding a slightly spicy sauce to fresh chives would balance the richness of the tteokgalbi and create a harmonious dish. This versatile sauce is perfect for dipping meat or fish, or spooning over vegetables. I first completed a delicious meal with the tteokgalbi and chives, and then used the same sauce for grilled semi-dried croaker fish, creating another wonderful dish. This sauce truly complements both meat and vegetables beautifully!
Versatile Sauce Ingredients- 5 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp Cheongyang Gochugaru (optional, for extra spiciness)
- 4 Tbsp Cham Sauce (adds sweetness and umami)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (adds natural sweetness and depth)
- 1 tsp ginger extract (adds a zesty aroma and flavor)
- 2 Tbsp Guk-ganjang (Korean soup soy sauce) or regular soy sauce (adds savory depth)
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Other Ingredients- 60g fresh chives
- Prepared versatile sauce (to taste)
- 130g store-bought tteokgalbi
- 1 semi-dried croaker fish
- 60g fresh chives
- Prepared versatile sauce (to taste)
- 130g store-bought tteokgalbi
- 1 semi-dried croaker fish
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s make the star of our chive salad: the versatile sauce. In a bowl, combine 5 tablespoons of gochugaru and 1 teaspoon of Cheongyang gochugaru. Add 4 tablespoons of Cham Sauce, 1 tablespoon of plum extract, and 1 teaspoon of ginger extract to build the flavor base.
Step 2
Cham Sauce is sweet but can lack saltiness, so add 2 tablespoons of guk-ganjang (or regular soy sauce) to adjust the overall seasoning. Next, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame seeds, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Mix everything together thoroughly to create a fantastic versatile sauce. This sauce is perfect for dipping meat or fish, or spooning over vegetables, offering a delightful balance of savory, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Step 3
Now, wash and thoroughly dry about 60g of fresh chives. Arrange them neatly on your serving plate, creating a vibrant green bed.
Step 4
Gently spoon or drizzle your prepared versatile sauce over the chives. Be generous, allowing the sauce to coat the chives evenly.
Step 5
Next, place the air-fried tteokgalbi (about 130g) attractively on top of the chives. The sweet and savory tteokgalbi, combined with the fresh chives and the zesty sauce, creates a perfectly balanced dish that’s neither too rich nor too sweet. This combination alone makes for a delightful meal.
Step 6
Let’s explore another delicious application for this versatile sauce! This time, we’ll use a semi-dried croaker fish. (For your information, croaker is often enjoyed in summer as sashimi, in stews, or pan-fried, with pan-frying being a particular favorite. While typically oily in summer, its semi-dried and grilled form is also a delicacy.) Again, start by laying a generous bed of fresh chives on your serving plate.
Step 7
Spoon the versatile sauce over the chives once more. Think of it as gently layering the sauce rather than just pouring it, to maintain the vibrant green color of the chives.
Step 8
Now, prepare the semi-dried croaker fish. (A slight mishap occurred here: I mistakenly applied olive oil and put it in the air fryer without removing the plastic packaging. This resulted in a total cooking time of 40 minutes, as I had to remove the plastic and re-cook. Please excuse this oversight.) Place the croaker fish in the air fryer preheated to 200°C (392°F) and cook for a total of 40 minutes.
Step 9
Before grilling, brush both sides of the fish generously with olive oil. This will help create a moist and appetizing finish. (Again, I apologize for not noticing the plastic packaging at this stage. Please remember to remove all packaging before cooking!)
Step 10
Once the semi-dried croaker fish is thoroughly cooked after 40 minutes of grilling (this total time was due to the initial mistake with the plastic wrap, for which I sincerely apologize – my eyesight isn’t what it used to be!), carefully place the beautifully grilled fish on top of the sauced chives. The result is a visually stunning and flavorful dish. The spicy and sweet sauce drizzled over the chives will enhance the fish’s natural flavors, creating a truly memorable culinary experience.
