Chewy and Refreshing Whelk and Miyeokgui Salad
Chewy and Refreshing Whelk and Miyeokgui Salad
A Special Miyeokgui Whelk Salad Enhanced with Healthy Miyeokgui Enzyme
As someone who absolutely loves seafood, I regularly incorporate miyeokgui (sea mustard stem) into my diet. We all know how incredibly healthy seaweed is for our bodies! I prepare various seaweed dishes, including soups, fritters, and salads. Among these, I particularly enjoy eating dried miyeokgui simply dipped in gochujang, fried, or made into a salad. Today, I’ve created a whelk salad using this special miyeokgui enzyme. It’s a dish that seafood lovers will surely appreciate!
Ingredients- 1 can of canned whelks (approx. 150g)
- A handful of dried miyeokgui (approx. 20g)
- 1 large green onion
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/2 cucumber
- 5 large perilla leaves
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 4 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp guk-ganjang (Korean soup soy sauce) or seasoned soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (maesil-cheong)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Wasabi or hot mustard paste to taste
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare one can of canned whelks, the star of this dish.
Step 2
Drain the whelks thoroughly in a colander. If the whelks are small, leave them whole. If they are large, cut them in half once to make them easier to eat. This helps the seasoning penetrate better.
Step 3
Rinse the dried miyeokgui thoroughly under running water. Gently wash away some of the slippery coating – while this coating is healthy, rinsing it off results in a cleaner texture for the salad. Pat dry and cut the miyeokgui into bite-sized pieces.
Step 4
Wash the perilla leaves, trim off the stems, and roll them up tightly like a sushi roll. This makes them easy to slice thinly.
Step 5
Thinly slice the rolled perilla leaves into approximately 0.5cm strips. Gently shake the sliced leaves to separate them.
Step 6
Wash the cucumber and onion, trim their ends, and slice them diagonally (slicing on an angle) about 0.5cm thick. This cut exposes more surface area for the dressing to cling to.
Step 7
Similarly, wash the green onion and slice it diagonally about 0.5cm thick. The mild pungency of the green onion will enhance the overall flavor of the salad.
Step 8
Now, let’s make the flavorful dressing. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp gochujang, 4 Tbsp gochugaru, 1 Tbsp guk-ganjang (or seasoned soy sauce), 2 Tbsp vinegar, 1 Tbsp plum extract, 2 Tbsp sugar, and 1 Tbsp minced garlic. For an extra kick, add a touch of wasabi or hot mustard paste, according to your preference. Finally, stir in 1 Tbsp sesame oil and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Mix everything well until the dressing is smooth and well combined. (If you don’t have guk-ganjang, regular soy sauce will work too.)
Step 9
In a large mixing bowl, add the prepared miyeokgui, sliced cucumber, onion, and green onion. Add the prepared whelks to the bowl as well.
Step 10
Pour the prepared dressing over the ingredients in the bowl. Gently mix everything together with your hands, ensuring the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can make the ingredients mushy.
Step 11
Your delicious and chewy Miyeokgui Whelk Salad is ready! It looks incredibly appetizing.
Step 12
Transfer the finished Miyeokgui Whelk Salad to a serving plate. Generously top with the thinly sliced perilla leaves and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for garnish. Serving it with boiled somen noodles (thin wheat noodles) makes it an even more satisfying meal or appetizer.
Step 13
This Miyeokgui Whelk Salad offers a delightful combination of sweet, sour, and chewy textures. The tender whelks, crisp miyeokgui, and fresh vegetables create a symphony of flavors in your mouth. It’s like a treasure trove from both the land and the sea, harmonizing to create a truly special culinary experience.
Step 14
This incredible combination of land and sea ingredients will surely delight your palate. Paired with delicious somen noodles, it becomes a perfectly complete meal or an ideal accompaniment to drinks, offering a truly satisfying dining experience. Enjoy this delightful dish with a glass of your favorite beverage for an even happier evening.
