Three Types of Seasonal Garden Vegetable Banchan
Three Delicious Garden Vegetable Side Dishes Perfect for a Weekend Meal
Enjoy a relaxing weekend by creating these flavorful banchan (side dishes) using fresh vegetables from your brother-in-law’s garden. This recipe features frozen ‘nogak’ (a type of cucumber), fresh chili peppers, and zucchini, capturing the essence of the season. These dishes are perfect for entertaining guests or adding a healthy touch to your everyday meals.
Tender Frozen Nogak and Clam Stir-fry- 2 frozen nogak (Korean cucumber)
- 100g cleaned clams
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 Korean green chili peppers (cheongyang)
- 5 Tbsp anchovy sauce (myeolchi aekjeot)
- 3 Tbsp broth (anchovy-kelp)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame seeds (toasted)
- Sesame oil
- Cooking oil (a little)
Sweet Zucchini and Pork Stir-fry- 1/2 round zucchini
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 Korean green chili pepper (cheongyang)
- 100g ground pork or thinly sliced pork
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp broth (anchovy-kelp)
- 1 Tbsp anchovy sauce (myeolchi aekjeot)
- Cooking oil (a little)
- Sesame seeds (toasted)
- Sesame oil (a little)
Steamed Chili Peppers- 200g green chili peppers (or Korean cucumber peppers)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp red chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour or pancake mix
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame seeds (toasted)
- Sesame oil (a little)
- 1/2 round zucchini
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 Korean green chili pepper (cheongyang)
- 100g ground pork or thinly sliced pork
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp broth (anchovy-kelp)
- 1 Tbsp anchovy sauce (myeolchi aekjeot)
- Cooking oil (a little)
- Sesame seeds (toasted)
- Sesame oil (a little)
Steamed Chili Peppers- 200g green chili peppers (or Korean cucumber peppers)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce (jin ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp red chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour or pancake mix
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame seeds (toasted)
- Sesame oil (a little)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
[Frozen Nogak and Clam Stir-fry] ㉠ Thaw the frozen nogak under cold water and squeeze out any excess moisture. Cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm long. 
Step 2
㉡ Heat a pan over medium heat with a little cooking oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Then, add the prepared nogak, broth, and anchovy sauce. Stir-fry over medium heat until tender.
Step 3
㉢ Once the nogak is somewhat cooked, add the cleaned clams and the sliced red and green chili peppers. Stir-fry together until the clams are cooked through. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for added flavor and nutty aroma. Your delicious nogak stir-fry is complete.
Step 4
[Zucchini and Pork Stir-fry] ㉠ Wash the zucchini thoroughly and slice it into thin half-moons. Remove seeds from the red and green chili peppers and slice them diagonally. 
Step 5
㉡ In a bowl, combine the pork with soy sauce, minced garlic, and a little sesame oil. Mix well to marinate. Stir-fry the marinated pork in a heated pan.
Step 6
㉢ When the pork is about halfway cooked, add the sliced zucchini, broth, and anchovy sauce. Continue to stir-fry until the zucchini becomes translucent.
Step 7
㉣ Finally, add the diagonally sliced chili peppers and stir-fry briefly. Finish by sprinkling with toasted sesame seeds. Your sweet and savory zucchini and pork stir-fry is ready!
Step 8
[Steamed Chili Peppers] ㉠ Remove the stems from the chili peppers and wash them thoroughly. Pat them dry. Place the peppers in a large bowl and toss with all-purpose flour (or regular flour) until evenly coated. Arrange the coated peppers in a steamer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Lightly spray with water to dampen the excess flour, or place a small amount of water at the bottom of the steamer to create steam. Steam for 10-15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a chopstick. 
Step 9
㉡ Transfer the steamed peppers to a bowl. Add soy sauce, minced garlic, red chili flakes, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds. Gently toss everything together to combine. These soft and moist steamed chili peppers make an excellent side dish for rice.
