Sesame Oil Radish Salad: A Crisp and Fragrant Autumn Delight
[Man-Gae Recipe Contest] Introducing a Radish Salad made with seasonal autumn radishes, perfect for a delicious side dish.
When there’s nothing much to eat at home, I made this simple radish salad as a side dish. It’s packed with the wonderful aroma of perilla oil.
Ingredients
- 1 Autumn Radish (medium size)
- 2 Tbsp Perilla Oil (Deulgireum)
- 1 Tbsp Soup Soy Sauce (Guk-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- Pinch of Salt
- A little bit of chopped Green Onion (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start making a delicious radish salad, bursting with the rich flavor of autumn radishes and the fragrant aroma of perilla oil! We’ll prepare it with as much care as if we were entering a cooking competition.
Step 2
First, wash the autumn radish thoroughly, peel it, and then use a mandoline or a sharp knife to cut it into thin, even julienne strips. Ensuring the strips are of uniform thickness will result in a consistent texture when cooked. Aim for about 0.3 cm thickness.
Step 3
To the julienned radish, add a pinch of coarse salt and let it sit for a short while to lightly cure. Letting it sit for about 5 minutes will help the radish soften slightly and release some moisture, enhancing its crispness. Be careful not to over-salt or let it sit too long, as it can become mushy.
Step 4
Now, heat a shallow pot or a wide frying pan over medium heat, and generously drizzle in 2 tablespoons of perilla oil. Add the prepared radish strips and stir-fry them until they become translucent and slightly tender, about one ‘so-keum’ (a short cooking time, implying a brief stir-fry). Keep the heat on medium-low to prevent burning, adjusting as needed.
Step 5
Once the radish has become somewhat translucent and tender, add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of soup soy sauce. Continue to stir-fry together for another short period (a ‘so-keum’). The fragrant garlic and the deep umami from the soup soy sauce will infuse into the radish, making it even more flavorful. Stir-fry for about 1-2 more minutes.
Step 6
Finally, add a small amount of finely chopped green onion (about 1 teaspoon) and 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds. Mix quickly. Taste the salad and if it needs more flavor, add a tiny pinch more salt to adjust the seasoning. Once everything is well combined, turn off the heat.
Step 7
Voila! Your delicious perilla oil radish salad, with its delightful crispness, is ready. It’s wonderful while still warm, but it becomes even more delightfully crunchy when slightly cooled.
Step 8
And there you have it – a simple yet incredibly tasty radish salad. It’s also great served over rice like a simple rice bowl or as a side dish for a bento box. We highly recommend you try making it!