Spicy, Sweet, and Tangy Whelk Salad with Noodles
Spicy, Sweet, and Tangy Whelk Salad with Noodles
The Perfect Harmony of Crispy Vegetables and Chewy Whelks! Golden Recipe for Whelk Salad
A perfect dish for when you’ve lost your appetite! This whelk salad is a delightful combination of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors. The chewy whelks and crisp vegetables create a wonderful texture. You can also add noodles to make it a hearty meal or a fantastic accompaniment to drinks. Try making this delicious whelk salad with our golden recipe!
Main Ingredients- 1 can canned whelks (approx. 200g)
- 1 large green onion
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1 Korean chili pepper (Cheongyang)
- Somen noodles, as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s make the flavorful dressing, the heart of this dish. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp gochugaru, 1 Tbsp gochujang, 5 Tbsp vinegar, 3 Tbsp maesilcheong, and 2 Tbsp sesame oil. Mix them well. We’ll adjust the saltiness later, so don’t add it yet.
Step 2
Thinly julienne 1 large green onion. Cutting it into thin strips will enhance its texture and flavor in the salad.
Step 3
Soak the julienned green onion in cold water for a while to remove its strong pungency and make it crispier. Soak for about 5 minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess water.
Step 4
Thinly julienne 1/2 medium onion, similar in thickness to the green onion.
Step 5
Cut 1/2 cucumber lengthwise into halves, then slice them diagonally into about 0.5cm thick pieces. Angled slices create a wider surface area for the dressing to adhere to.
Step 6
Drain the canned whelks in a colander. Reserve about 3 Tbsp of the whelk liquid to use in the dressing. Cut the whelks into bite-sized pieces. Avoid cutting them too small, as they should retain a pleasant chewiness. Two to three pieces per whelk is ideal.
Step 7
Now it’s time to combine all the ingredients! In a large bowl, add the prepared whelks, julienned green onion, onion, and cucumber. Pour in the dressing you made earlier and the reserved 3 Tbsp of whelk liquid. For seasoning, start with about 0.5 Tbsp of salt and add more if needed after tasting.
Step 8
Gently toss everything together with your hands until well combined. Be careful not to mash the vegetables, preserving their crispness. Fresh vegetables truly make this salad shine.
Step 9
If you want a more substantial meal, add somen noodles. Boil the noodles in plenty of water for about 3-4 minutes. Be mindful not to overcook them, as they can become mushy.
Step 10
Immediately rinse the cooked somen noodles under cold running water to remove starch, then drain them thoroughly in a colander. Rinsing in cold water helps maintain their chewy texture.
Step 11
Plate the whelk salad attractively and serve the drained somen noodles alongside. For an even more delicious experience, gently mix the somen with the salad before eating. The combination of crisp vegetables, chewy whelks, and the spicy-sweet-tangy dressing is simply irresistible! This whelk and noodle salad is a fantastic dish to enjoy. Give this recipe a try!
