Crisp, Sweet & Sour Summer Radish Salad (Mu Saengchae)
Crisp, Sweet & Sour Summer Radish Salad (Mu Saengchae)
The Best Side Dish to Boost Your Appetite in Summer! How to Make a Crispy Radish Salad with Summer Radishes
Beat the summer heat and stimulate your appetite with this amazing side dish! We’re making a wonderfully crisp, sweet, and sour radish salad using the juicy summer radishes. This recipe is so delicious, it’s guaranteed to bring back your appetite. Simple yet incredibly flavorful! Let’s get started.
Essential Ingredients- 1 medium summer radish
- 2.5 Tbsp salt (for salting the radish)
Sweet & Sour Seasoning- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2-3 Tbsp sugar (adjust to your sweetness preference)
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (for sourness)
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2-3 Tbsp sugar (adjust to your sweetness preference)
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (for sourness)
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare one medium summer radish. Wash it thoroughly and peel off the skin. Then, cut the radish into about 3 equal portions. Slice these portions into relatively thin pieces, avoiding making them too thick. The key here is to retain the radish’s fresh moisture.
Step 2
Now it’s time to julienne the sliced radish. Cut it into thin, even strips. If you find julienning difficult, using a mandoline slicer will make it much easier to achieve uniform thickness. As they say, food that looks good tastes good too!
Step 3
Add 2.5 tablespoons of medium-grain salt to the julienned radish and gently mix by hand. Salting the radish will help draw out excess moisture, resulting in a crispier texture. Let it sit and salt for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4
You’ll notice a significant amount of water has been released from the salted radish. Removing this excess water is crucial for the final taste and texture of the mu saengchae. Place the julienned radish into a cheesecloth or a fine mesh bag (like a dashi bag) and squeeze out as much water as possible with your hands. Get it nice and dry!
Step 5
Now, to the well-drained radish, add all the prepared seasoning ingredients: gochugaru, minced garlic, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and sesame seeds. Gently mix everything together with your hands, ensuring the seasoning coats the radish evenly. Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste for sweetness.
Step 6
Voila! Your crisp, sweet, and tangy summer radish salad is ready. This is the perfect banchan (side dish) to help you finish off a bowl of rice, especially when you don’t have much appetite. It tastes even better when served chilled!
