Crispy Napa Cabbage Salad (Clear Taste Without Fish Sauce!)
Crispy Napa Cabbage Salad (Clear Taste Without Fish Sauce!)
Spicy and Sweet! Napa Cabbage Salad: The Secret to Making a Clean and Delicious Seasoning Without Fish Sauce
Introducing a recipe for a crisp and fresh Napa cabbage salad. While fermented cabbage kimchi is delicious, a freshly made salad offers unparalleled freshness that’s a perfect side dish. Served with a bowl of rice and cool water, this salad will disappear in no time! We’ll even share a special seasoning secret to achieve a deep, clean flavor without fish sauce.
Salad Ingredients- 1 head Baby Napa Cabbage
- 10 stalks Young Green Onions
- 1/4 Onion
- 5 Tbsp Red Pepper Flakes (Gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 4 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesil Extract)
- Sesame Seeds, a pinch
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s make the spicy and sweet seasoning that will define the flavor of your salad. You can use a blender or a grater if you don’t have one. Blend 1/4 onion with 4 Tbsp soy sauce until smooth. This step of pureeing the onion beforehand makes the seasoning much smoother. Add 5 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 2 Tbsp minced garlic, 4 Tbsp plum extract, and a pinch of sesame seeds to the pureed onion and soy sauce mixture. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined. Letting the seasoning sit allows the red pepper flakes to absorb the liquid, resulting in a softer texture and flavor. If you prefer a saltier taste, you can add a tiny bit of salt at this stage.
Step 2
Prepare your clean and fresh baby Napa cabbage. First, trim off the tough core at the bottom of the cabbage with a knife. Then, gently separate the leaves by hand, one by one. Rinse the separated cabbage leaves thoroughly under running water multiple times. After washing, let the cabbage drain well in a colander. This step is crucial to prevent the salad from becoming too watery.
Step 3
Now it’s time to cut the drained cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Adjust the size according to the leaf size. For large, wide leaves, cutting them in half lengthwise and then into 2-3 pieces is a good approach. For smaller or younger leaves, you can cut them in half or leave very small leaves whole to maintain their texture. Cutting the cabbage into appropriate sizes ensures that the seasoning coats evenly, making it even more delicious.
Step 4
Young green onions are also an important ingredient that adds flavor and aroma to the salad. Trim and wash the green onions, then cut them into approximately 5cm lengths. Cutting them to this size makes them easy to mix with the cabbage.
Step 5
Now, it’s time to combine and mix all the ingredients. Place the cut young green onions attractively on top of the prepared cabbage leaves.
Step 6
Pour the delicious seasoning you made earlier over the vegetables. Gently toss everything together, ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly coated with the seasoning. Be careful not to mix too vigorously, as this can damage the crisp texture of the cabbage. A gentle, light mixing is key. Make sure the seasoning is spread evenly and not clumped in one spot.
Step 7
Voila! Your Napa cabbage salad is ready, looking so appetizing. It’s incredibly simple yet creates such a delicious result, isn’t it?
Step 8
This baby Napa cabbage salad is a magical side dish that makes a bowl of rice disappear in an instant. Especially since it’s made without fish sauce, you can truly savor the fresh taste of the ingredients and the clean flavor of the seasoning. Even those who dislike the pungent aroma of fish sauce can enjoy this without worry. For those who prefer a cleaner taste, this is an absolutely perfect salad recipe. Enjoy a delightful meal with this delicious salad tonight!
