Nutrient-Rich, Crunchy Sea Mustard and Tofu Salad
Nutrient-Rich, Crunchy Sea Mustard and Tofu Salad
Easily Make a Healthy Side Dish: Meet Your New Favorite with Sea Mustard and Tofu Salad!
I spotted fresh sea mustard at the mart today and decided to make a delicious salad with soft tofu instead of the usual spicy chili paste dressing. This dish offers a wonderfully mild and nutty flavor profile, packed with the rich nutrients from both sea mustard and tofu, making your breakfast table significantly healthier! I’m sharing a super simple recipe for this delightful Sea Mustard and Tofu Salad that’s so appealingly nutty, it’ll have you devouring a bowl of rice in no time. It’s fantastic as a side dish for meals, or simply enjoyed on its own with its gentle, savory taste. The chewy, crunchy texture of the sea mustard is truly captivating!
Sea Mustard and Tofu Salad Ingredients- 1 block firm tofu
- Salted sea mustard
- 2 Tbsp vinegar (to remove fishy smell from sea mustard)
Seasoning- 2 Tbsp soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame seeds, sprinkled generously
- Chopped green onion (to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Sesame seeds, sprinkled generously
- Chopped green onion (to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
For the salted sea mustard, it’s important to remove the saltiness and any potential fishy odor. Place the sea mustard in a bowl and rub it vigorously under cold running water multiple times. Thoroughly rinsing until all the saltiness is gone is key. After rinsing, soak the sea mustard in water with 2-3 drops of vinegar for about 15 minutes. This step effectively eliminates the characteristic briny taste, allowing you to enjoy it more. My mother enjoys seaweed but dislikes the fishy taste; she mentioned that soaking it in vinegar completely removes it!
Step 2
Briefly blanch the tofu in boiling water. This step helps firm up the tofu and makes it more pleasant to eat warm. Ideally, place the blanched tofu in a cheesecloth and squeeze out the excess water. If that’s inconvenient, you can use paper towels. While paper towels work, they might not remove all the moisture, so using a cheesecloth is highly recommended for the best results!
Step 3
To ensure the sea mustard is clean and pleasant to eat, we’ll blanch it briefly. Bring a pot of water to a boil with a pinch of salt. Add the sea mustard and blanch for just about 10-15 seconds. Be careful not to overcook it, as this can make the sea mustard tough. Immediately rinse the blanched sea mustard under cold running water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Drain thoroughly in a colander. This process helps retain the sea mustard’s crisp texture while ensuring it’s hygienic.
Step 4
Now, let’s prepare the seasoning ingredients for the Sea Mustard and Tofu Salad! Finely chop the green onions. In a bowl, place the drained tofu and mash it. Keeping the ingredients simple makes for a quicker dish, doesn’t it? If you have scallions, using them will add a more robust flavor.
Step 5
Add the mashed tofu, drained sea mustard, and chopped green onions to a bowl. Mix in 2 Tbsp of soup soy sauce, 1 Tbsp of minced garlic, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Gently toss everything together. Using soup soy sauce for seasoning adds a lovely nutty depth. I prefer to season it lightly to highlight the tofu’s natural mildness. My father tasted it and said it was like ‘temple food’ (laughs), referring to its delicately mild and simple flavor, which I find quite appealing.
Step 6
Your nutritious Sea Mustard and Tofu Salad is ready! Serve it in a pretty bowl for an appealing presentation. The tofu makes it wonderfully nutty and mild, while the soup soy sauce lends a clean and healthy taste. This dish would be absolutely delicious mixed into a bowl of rice, especially when you don’t have much appetite!
