Crisp and Refreshing Radish Salad (Musaengchae)
Crisp and Refreshing Radish Salad (Musaengchae)
Baek Jong-won’s Musaengchae Recipe: Perfect for Bossam, Suyuk, and Lunch Boxes! Making Restaurant-Style Radish Kimchi
The ultimate summer side dish! Learn how to make the delicious radish salad you’ve tasted at Korean BBQ restaurants, easily and quickly at home. Its crisp texture and sweet-and-sour flavor are simply delightful.
Main Ingredients- 1/2 medium Korean radish
- 1 handful of green onions or scallions (chopped)
- 1/2 handful of coarse sea salt (for salting the radish)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Hello everyone! Today, we’re going to make a refreshing and crisp radish salad (Musaengchae), which is a perfect side dish for the summer. Let’s create this universally loved, delicious radish salad together!
Step 2
First, prepare half a medium Korean radish. Wash the radish thoroughly; you can peel it or use it with the skin on. Using a mandoline slicer will help you get thin, uniform shreds, making the process much easier. If slicing with a knife, aim for a thickness of about 0.2 cm and cut into julienne or thin strips. Add the coarse sea salt to the shredded radish and mix well. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to soften and release its moisture. Once the radish has wilted, squeeze out as much water as possible with your hands. Discard the squeezed-out water. Lightly spread out the radish strands to help the seasoning adhere evenly.
Step 3
Now it’s time for seasoning. To the squeezed radish, add 2 tablespoons of gochugaru, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Also, add the chopped green onions (or scallions) you prepared. Gently mix everything with your hands until the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the radish. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the radish mushy.
Step 4
And there you have it – a delicious radish salad is ready! Its crisp texture and perfectly balanced sweet-and-sour flavor make it a delightful standalone side dish. It’s especially wonderful served alongside Bossam (boiled pork wraps) or Suyuk (boiled meat slices), creating a fantastic combination. Since it’s quick to make, be sure to give it a try!
