Delicious Seasoned Napa Cabbage Salad (Baechu Namul Muchim)
Delicious Seasoned Napa Cabbage Salad (Baechu Namul Muchim)
Super Simple Winter Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe – A Treasured Side Dish
Introducing a comforting and delicious Napa Cabbage Salad, a winter delicacy reminiscent of childhood. This is a super simple side dish, carrying the warm flavors of my mother’s cooking. While not as common these days, it’s a wonderful way to use up leftover winter cabbage, offering a savory and delightful alternative to cabbage soup. Its crisp texture and umami are simply outstanding.
Ingredients- 1 handful Napa cabbage (approx. 200g)
- Pinch of salt for blanching
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce or salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds or ground sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare a pot of boiling water to blanch the Napa cabbage. Once the water starts boiling, add a pinch of salt. This helps to maintain the vibrant green color of the cabbage and enhances its crisp texture, much like blanching spinach.
Step 2
Add the Napa cabbage to the boiling water. Gently push the cabbage down with a spoon to ensure it’s evenly submerged and blanched. Blanching it just until it slightly wilts will preserve its crispness. If you prefer a softer texture, you can blanch it for a little longer. Typically, 1-2 minutes is sufficient.
Step 3
Immediately after blanching, rinse the Napa cabbage under cold running water. This step is crucial for maintaining its crisp texture and stopping the cooking process, ensuring a fresh taste.
Step 4
Once rinsed, gently squeeze out excess water from the cabbage with your hands. Leaving too much water can make the salad bland and mushy. Cut the cabbage into bite-sized pieces, about 3-4 cm long.
Step 5
Now, let’s season the cabbage. In a bowl, combine the blanched cabbage with 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce or salt, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Using soy sauce will give a deeper flavor, while salt offers a cleaner taste. (A small amount of fermented soybean paste can also add a unique depth of flavor.)
Step 6
Gently toss and mix everything together until the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the cabbage. Be careful not to mash the cabbage; mix it as you would spinach salad. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or soy sauce if needed. Your delicious Napa Cabbage Salad is ready!
