Aromatic Spring Delight: Perfect Seasoned WinterCress (Naengi Muchim)
Aromatic Spring Delight: Perfect Seasoned WinterCress (Naengi Muchim)
Full of Spring Fragrance! The Best WinterCress Salad (Naengi Muchim) to Awaken Your Appetite – A Simple Secret Everyone Loves
On this warm spring day, I’m delighted to share a special recipe for seasoned wintercress (Naengi Muchim) that will fill your dining table with a wonderful aroma. It’s surprisingly simple, yet the taste is truly感動! Although wintercress is typically a spring vegetable, it seems to grow well even in the pleasant autumn weather these days. Seeing the fresh wintercress lovingly prepared and sold by elderly vendors, I couldn’t resist buying a bunch to add a fragrant touch to our breakfast table. Even without complex seasonings, the natural, fresh aroma of the wintercress fills your mouth, making it incredibly delicious. While perhaps not as potent as spring wintercress, this autumn version is a true delicacy. I highly recommend you try this recipe to enjoy a healthy, satisfying, and happy meal!
Main Ingredients- 1 bunch of fresh wintercress (approx. 200g)
- Coarse salt (for blanching)
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 stalk of green onion or scallion (finely chopped)
- 1 Cheongyang chili pepper (seeds removed, finely chopped)
- 1 red chili pepper (seeds removed, finely chopped)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 0.5 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp oligodang or plum extract (for sweetness, adjust to taste)
- 1 stalk of green onion or scallion (finely chopped)
- 1 Cheongyang chili pepper (seeds removed, finely chopped)
- 1 red chili pepper (seeds removed, finely chopped)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 0.5 Tbsp doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp oligodang or plum extract (for sweetness, adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
During pleasant weather like this, you can often find fresh wintercress carefully picked and prepared by elders. The wintercress I bought was already well-cleaned, making it ready to use. However, wintercress can contain a lot of dirt and debris, so it’s essential to rinse it thoroughly multiple times under running water. Pay close attention to the root area, as dirt tends to accumulate there.
Step 2
Now, let’s blanch the thoroughly washed wintercress to bring out its fresh flavor. Fill a pot with plenty of water, add a generous pinch of coarse salt, and bring it to a rolling boil. Adding coarse salt during blanching helps maintain the vibrant green color of the wintercress and removes any unwanted odors.
Step 3
Once the water is boiling vigorously, add the prepared wintercress and blanch it very briefly, for just about 30 seconds. Wintercress is a delicate herb, and overcooking it will make it mushy, ruining its texture. The key is to blanch it quickly, just enough to retain its vibrant green color and a slight crispness.
Step 4
Immediately after blanching, transfer the wintercress to cold water to quickly cool it down and stop the cooking process. This step helps preserve its crisp texture and vibrant green hue. Once cooled, drain the wintercress well in a colander.
Step 5
If you’re in a hurry or want to ensure most of the water is removed, you can gently squeeze the wintercress with your hands to expel excess moisture. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, as this can crush the delicate leaves. Removing excess water is crucial for the seasoning to adhere properly and for the salad to taste its best.
Step 6
Prepare the chili peppers and green onion (or scallion) for the salad. Finely chop the green parts of the chili peppers and the green onion/scallion after removing the seeds from the peppers. This ensures the seasoning is evenly distributed and makes the salad visually appealing.
Step 7
Let’s make the delicious seasoning! In a bowl, combine the gochujang and doenjang as the base. Add the chopped green onion, minced garlic, and the finely chopped Cheongyang and red chili peppers. For a touch of sweetness, add oligodang (or plum extract), and for richness, mix in sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds. Stir everything together until well combined. Feel free to adjust the seasoning proportions to your liking.
Step 8
Add the drained wintercress to the prepared seasoning and gently toss and mix it with your hands. Gently massaging the ingredients together ensures that the seasoning coats the wintercress evenly. When mixed with care, you’ll have a wonderfully fragrant and delicious seasoned wintercress salad! Enjoy this vibrant spring delicacy for a healthy and satisfying meal.
