Steamed Eggplant Salad (Gajijjim Muchim)
Soft and Delicious Steamed Eggplant Salad!
We’re making a delicious side dish by lightly steaming purple eggplants and seasoning them. This dish offers a wonderful texture that’s both tender and slightly chewy.
Main Ingredients- 3 eggplants (medium-sized)
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1.5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2.5 Tbsp soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp oligo-dang (isomaltulose syrup) (adjust sweetness to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1.5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2.5 Tbsp soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp oligo-dang (isomaltulose syrup) (adjust sweetness to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the eggplants thoroughly under running water and carefully trim off the stem ends. Washing them well ensures a fresher taste.
Step 2
Cut each eggplant into 4 equal pieces, creating bite-sized portions. Arrange the eggplant pieces attractively in your steamer basket.
Step 3
Steam the eggplant over boiling water for 3-5 minutes. It’s best to steam them briefly so they remain tender but not mushy. Let the steamed eggplant cool down slightly.
Step 4
While the eggplant is cooling, prepare the seasoning. In a bowl, combine the chopped green onion, minced garlic, gochugaru, soup soy sauce, oligo-dang, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds. Mix well to create a flavorful dressing. (Tip: If your gochugaru is not very spicy, you can add finely chopped Cheongyang chili peppers for extra heat. I didn’t add them today as my gochugaru is quite spicy.)
Step 5
Once the steamed eggplant has cooled a bit, gently tear it into strips along the natural fibers. Avoid tearing them too thinly; a moderate thickness provides a better texture.
Step 6
Pour the prepared seasoning sauce over the torn eggplant. Add the extra toasted sesame seeds and sesame oil.
Step 7
Gently toss everything together to ensure the seasoning coats the eggplant evenly. Your delicious steamed eggplant salad is now ready to be served! It makes an excellent side dish for any meal.
