Spicy and Sweet Pork Belly and Whelk Salad
★A Must-Try Delicacy! Pork Belly and Whelk Salad★
Craving something spicy and sweet, I whipped up this delicious salad featuring thinly sliced pork belly and whelks. The chewy whelks, savory pork belly, and crisp vegetables come together to create a fantastic appetizer or a special meal. Perfect for the whole family to enjoy, discover this unique recipe now!
Main Ingredients
- 1 can (300g) canned whelks
- 500g thinly sliced pork belly
- 1/2 onion
- 1 handful of cabbage
- 1/2 carrot
- 2-3 servings of somen noodles
- 1/2 cucumber
Seasoning Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 4 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp maesilcheong (plum extract)
- 4 Tbsp whelk can liquid
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp Dasida (MSG-based seasoning)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of herb salt
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 4 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp maesilcheong (plum extract)
- 4 Tbsp whelk can liquid
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp Dasida (MSG-based seasoning)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of herb salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the vegetables for the salad. Thinly julienne the onion, cabbage, carrot, and cucumber, and place them in a bowl. It’s best to slice them not too thinly to maintain a crisp texture.
Step 2
In this recipe, we’ll mix all the ingredients together with the seasoning. However, if you prefer a cleaner taste, you can marinate the vegetables separately or make the sauce beforehand and mix everything together at the end. Let’s start by making the delicious seasoning sauce.
Step 3
Combine all the ingredients for the sauce: soy sauce, gochujang, gochugaru, sugar, oligodang, minced garlic, plum extract, whelk can liquid, vinegar, fish sauce, and Dasida. Mix well to create the seasoning sauce. (Note: I chose to mix everything together and toss it right away. This way, the seasoning evenly coats all the ingredients, offering a unique flavor. Of course, adding the sauce at the end and mixing is also delicious, so feel free to adjust to your preference.)
Step 4
Now it’s time to cook the somen noodles. Add the somen noodles to plenty of boiling water and stir well to prevent them from sticking. When the water starts to boil over, add 1 cup of cold water. Stir occasionally to keep the noodles from clumping. Once it boils up again, add another cup of cold water. When it boils up once more, turn off the heat, drain the noodles in a colander, and rinse them thoroughly under cold running water to cool them down. (A cold water rinse is essential to prevent the noodles from becoming mushy!) Drain completely in the colander. (Tip: I cooked about 3 servings because my husband loves noodles. You can adjust the noodle portion according to your preference!)
Step 5
Drain the liquid from the canned whelks. Briefly blanch them in boiling water; be careful not to overcook, as they can become tough. Rinse under cold water to cool, then drain thoroughly in a colander.
Step 6
If the blanched whelks are too large, cut them in half. Arrange the whelks attractively over the prepared vegetables.
Step 7
Finally, sprinkle generously with sesame seeds. Gently toss and mix everything together with your hands, ensuring all ingredients are well coated with the seasoning. It’s important to mix thoroughly for the flavors to meld.
Step 8
Arrange the drained somen noodles into a spiral on a plate. Generously pile the seasoned whelk and vegetable mixture in the center. For an extra touch of flavor, drizzle a little soy sauce, sesame oil, and sprinkle some crushed sesame seeds over the noodles. Your delicious pork belly and whelk salad is now ready!
Step 9
Now, let’s cook the pork belly. Heat a pan and spread out the thinly sliced pork belly. Sprinkle with herb salt and cook. Pork belly cooks quickly due to its thinness, but cooking it until crispy makes it even more savory and delicious. Cook until golden brown.
Step 10
Transfer the well-cooked pork belly to a serving dish. Your hearty and delicious pork belly and whelk salad is complete! Enjoy your abundant meal.
