Ginseng and Seafood Spicy-Sweet Salad with a Tangy Dressing
Ginseng and Seafood Spicy-Sweet Salad with a Tangy Dressing
A Refreshing Seafood and Ginseng Salad with a Tangy Dressing
A vibrant salad featuring the invigorating essence of ginseng combined with fresh seafood, tossed in a delightfully tangy and sweet sauce!
Ingredients- 1 fresh squid, cleaned
- About 10 fresh shrimp
- 1 root of ginseng
- 2 leaves of napa cabbage
- 1/4 apple
- A small amount of carrot
- A small amount of radish
- 1/4 green bell pepper
- 2-3 perilla leaves (깻잎)
- Gochujang-based spicy-sweet sauce (초고추장), to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, clean the fresh squid thoroughly, removing the ink sac and rinsing it under running water. Briefly blanch it in boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, then cut it into bite-sized pieces. (Pro Tip: Scoring the squid before blanching will make it look prettier and more tender when cooked.) Blanch the plump shrimp in boiling water, then peel off their heads, shells, and tails. Remove the digestive tract from the shrimp and cut them in half lengthwise. Prepare the vegetables by washing and thinly slicing the napa cabbage, apple, carrot, radish, and green bell pepper into julienne strips. Place all the julienned vegetables into a large mixing bowl.
Step 2
Carefully wash the ginseng root under running water to remove any soil. Cut the ginseng in half lengthwise and then thinly slice it into julienne strips. Add the blanched squid and shrimp, along with the julienned vegetables, to the large mixing bowl. In a separate small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the spicy-sweet sauce (초고추장) and mix well. (Tip: Adjust the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce by adding more sugar, vinegar, or gochujang according to your preference.) Generously pour the prepared sauce over the ingredients in the large bowl. Gently toss everything together to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the sauce. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the seafood mushy.
Step 3
The addition of ginseng lends a wonderful aroma to this dish, while the chewy texture of the shrimp and squid provides a delightful contrast. It’s a surprisingly simple yet elegant dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Imagine enjoying this with a cold, crisp beer… it truly doesn’t get much better than that! ^^
