Spring Aroma Delight: Tender Petasites Herb Salad Recipe (with Tips to Reduce Bitterness)
Spring Aroma Delight: Tender Petasites Herb Salad Recipe (with Tips to Reduce Bitterness)
Spring Delicacy, Petasites Herb Salad: A Detailed Guide from Preparing Young Shoots, Blanching, Secrets to Reducing Bitterness, to the Amazing Health Benefits of Petasites
Introducing a fragrant spring herb salad made with petasites, seasoned with a sweet and tangy gochujang sauce. This dish, full of spring’s essence, boasts a perfect balance of slightly bitter taste and tender texture.
Main Ingredients- 150g young petasites shoots
- Coarse salt, to taste
- 5 Tbsp Gochujang sauce (spicy chili paste sauce)
Gochujang Sauce (Basic)- 3 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp 2x concentrated vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Organic sugar
- 3 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp 2x concentrated vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Organic sugar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the fresh petasites shoots. Gently remove any wilted or discolored outer leaves and trim the tough ends of the stems. If the shoots are slightly thick, you can peel them similarly to how you would peel sweet potato stems by snapping off the ends for a more tender result.
Step 2
Rinse the prepared petasites thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a generous pinch of coarse salt, and carefully place the petasites shoots into the boiling water. Blanch for about 2-3 minutes until tender. Adding salt helps to reduce the grassy flavor and enhance the vibrant green color.
Step 3
Immediately after blanching, plunge the petasites into cold water to cool them down and completely remove any residual grassy taste. Squeeze out excess water thoroughly. Then, cut the petasites into bite-sized pieces, approximately 5cm in length. Cutting them too short might affect the texture, so aim for a moderate length.
Step 4
Prepare the gochujang sauce for mixing the petasites salad. In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp of gochujang, 1 Tbsp of 2x concentrated vinegar, and 1 Tbsp of organic sugar. Mix well until the sauce is smooth. Add the cut petasites to the prepared sauce and gently toss to coat evenly. Ensure the seasoning is distributed throughout the herbs.
Step 5
Finally, sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds and whole sesame seeds for added flavor and aroma. The nutty fragrance of the sesame seeds complements the slightly bitter taste of the petasites, making the dish even more delicious. You can also add a little minced garlic or sesame oil according to your preference.
