Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Korean Green Pepper Salad
The Ultimate Korean Green Pepper Salad: A Flavorful and Easy Side Dish
Korean green peppers (kwari gochu) are incredibly delicious when lightly fried in pork fat, especially alongside grilled pork belly. My husband, who loves home-cooked meals, often requests them. Since they can be pricey in winter, I decided to make the most of them now that they’re more affordable and abundant. Half of this batch was grilled with pork, and the other half was transformed into this delightful salad. It turned out so wonderfully tasty that I wanted to share it with my neighbors! This recipe is incredibly simple and delicious, a must-try for anyone who enjoys Korean side dishes. You’ll be hooked!
Main Ingredients
- 300g Korean green peppers (kwari gochu)
- 2 Tbsp potato starch or cornstarch
Seasoning Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the Korean green peppers thoroughly under running water and remove the stems. While they are still slightly wet, prick each pepper 2-3 times with a fork. This helps the seasoning penetrate better.
Step 2
Place the slightly damp peppers into a clean plastic bag. Add the 2 tablespoons of starch and close the bag securely. Shake the bag gently so that the starch evenly coats all the peppers. This step will give the peppers a lovely chewy texture after steaming.
Step 3
Prepare your steamer by bringing water to a boil. Once boiling, carefully add the starch-coated peppers to the steamer basket. Cover and steam for exactly 3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook, as this can make them mushy.
Step 4
Remove the steamed peppers from the steamer and let them cool down slightly. If any peppers have stuck together during steaming, gently separate them. Allow them to sit for a moment until the hot steam has completely dissipated, letting residual heat finish the cooking process.
Step 5
Now it’s time to season! In a bowl, combine the cooled peppers with 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of gochugaru, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds. Gently toss everything together to ensure the seasoning coats the peppers evenly.
Step 6
Once the peppers are well-coated with the initial seasonings, add the 3 tablespoons of sesame oil. Give it one final gentle toss to distribute the fragrant oil. Adding sesame oil last preserves its fresh, nutty aroma.
Step 7
Your visually appealing and incredibly delicious Spicy and Sweet Korean Green Pepper Salad is ready! This is a perfect side dish that complements any meal or makes a wonderful appetizer.
