MuSangChae: Sweet Pickled Radish

무생채

Like I said in my earlier post, I have daikon out the wazoo.  Last night hubby and I put all the daikon to good use and made 5 pounds of (sweet pickled radish)  We both love MuSangChae as a side dish, and it is very rare that we are ever without it.  It is such an easy side dish to make we are always sure our fridge is stocked with it.   MuSangChae has a light crisp sweet flavor, much like a sweet pickle but with the bit of spice that radish adds (and no dill flavor).

Fair warning you either love or hate MuSangChae I have never met anyone that thinks it's just ok.  Also fair warning number two, MuSangChae stinks, you don't really notice it while you are eating it but I have walked into the kitchen a few times while my hubby is eating ramyeon and  MuSangChae and had to open a window because.... it smells a bit like farts >.< so there's that for you.  Just a  fair warning.  I love it and eat it with almost every Korean meal I prepare but it is a bit smelly.
Now that you have had your fair warnings....

Here is what you need...

1 Pound of Daikon Radish Julienned or cut into thin medallions

1 Cup unseasoned Rice Vinegar

1 Cup Water

2 tsp Salt

1 Cup Sugar

Canning jar or sealed glass Tupperware

Here's how you go about doing it...

Wash and Peel the radish and Julienne or cut into thin medallions.  If you don’t know how to Julienne check this video out 

After the daikon is sliced mix the water, rice vinegar salt and sugar in a small bowl.  Be sure to mix well so all the sugar and salt dissolves in the solution. 

Place cut daikon in a canning jar or glass Tupperware. 

Pour pickling solution over daikon, seal jar and refrigerate.

MuSangChae will keep for a month or more refrigerated.  Toss it once the pickling solution starts to turn yellow or brown. 

 

*Serving Suggestions: MuSangChae really goes with everything.  It is extra good in NangMyeon (cold noodles) and the medallion cut is perfect when eating SamGyupSal (Unseasoned grilled Pork belly)  I will have recipes for both up some time soon so be sure to check back to see how to use your freshly made MuSangChae.

*Additional Notes:  MuSangChae is best eaten 24 hours after making to ensure the radish is seasoned.  However if you are in a rush it is good 2-4 hours after sitting in the fridge as well.

Be sure to use Unseasoned Rice Vinegar, if you buy regular rice vinegar it will already have some salt and maybe sugar in it so your measurements will have to be adjusted accordingly.  Read the ingredients list on the bottle, you only want it to contain rice vinegar and water.   

Kkakdugi: Radish Kimchi

Kkakdugi (깍두기)

Radish Kimchi

Kkakdugi is one of those dishes that I really like making in the summer.  

My folks have a nice sized garden and they grow daikon radish for hubby and me so we can make lots of yummy Korean food in the summer. 

I normally only make kkakdugi in the summer because buying 4 pounds of daikon in the middle of Minnesota in the middle of winter can be quite spendy.  That being said you can cut this recipe in half and still have a nice sized protion of kkakdugi.  

An additional note: I keep my ginger in the freezer because it makes it 100 times easier to grate (which is basically the only way I use ginger)  Feel free to mince it if you are using fresh unfrozen stuff.  It will be easier for you, but honestly try freezing your ginger it is the best thing ever!

Now that I am done ranting about ginger....here's what you will need for your very own Radish Kimchi!

Ingredients:

4 pounds of daikon radish (peeled and cubed)

2 TBSP salt

¼ cup sugar

6 cloves of minced garlic

½ inch grated ginger (1tsp minced ginger)

4 spring onions chopped

¼ cup fish sauce

2/3 cup hot pepper flakes

1/3 cup reserved radish juice

Glass containers for canning

Instructions:

Peel and slice the 4 Ib of radish, be sure to slice the radish at least 1-1 ¼ in thick.  Cube the radish by slicing in thirds going both directions for larger pieces and slicing by halves for thinner pieces. (the radish will shrink after adding salt and after fermenting)

Place sliced radish in a large bowl and mix with 2 TBSP of salt and ¼ cup of sugar.  Let the radish sit at room temperature for 2 hours.  At the end of 2 hours you should see radish juice in the bottom of the bowl.  Drain the radish and reserve at least 1/3 cup of the juice.

Place the radish in a large mixing bowl and add in minced garlic, ginger, spring onions, fish sauce hot pepper flakes, and reserved radish juice. 

Mix well with your hands.  You will want to wear gloves to protect your hands from staining and being burnt by the hot pepper.  

mix kkakdugi until a paste forms like this.  see how the radish has yellowed...

Mix until all the ingredients have formed a paste and the radish looks more yellow/red instead of white.

Place kkakdugi in glass containers and firmly push it down with your hand.  You want to try and remove as much air and space between the radish cubes as possible.  I have used canning jars in the past as well as glass pyrex containers.  If using a container with a lid you don’t want stained place some plastic wrap over the mouth of the jar or container before closing to prevent stains.

Fresh Kkakdugi, tightly packed and no air bubbles!

Let the containers sit on your counter for 24-48 hours.  Once you see bubbles rising to the top of the jar it is time to put it in the refrigerator.  If you don’t see bubbles rising up on their own after 24 hours try tapping the side of the jar.  If you see bubbles then put it in the refrigerator.  If you don’t see bubbles let the kkakdugi sit out longer.

You can eat the kkakdugi right away but it is best to let it ferment for 24 hours and then sit in the fridge for a day or two to really develop the flavors.

*Serving Suggestions: kkakdugi is great with everything.  When the hubby and I run out of kimchi we will eat kkakdugi instead.  It is particularly good with gamjatang a potato and pork stew that I will have a recipe for next week.  Enjoy!

Gyeran malri : Egg role side dish

The Gaeran role is one of my go to side dishes because it is so quick and easy to make.  When I am at a loss of what to make for dinner I will whip one of these up, some rice and kimchi and some pan fried zucchini really hit the spot.  The best thing about this side dish is that it is good hot or cold so you can eat it a day after preparing it, or bring it for lunch the next day if you have leftovers (hubby and I never have leftovers)

You will need:

• 3 eggs
• 1 spring onion finely chopped
• 2 baby carrots or ¼- ½ a carrot finely chopped
• Salt to taste
• 1-3 tsp of oil to coat pan

Here's how to put the whole thing together:

Mix eggs chopped onions and carrots in a bowl.

Heat a small 8-10in frying pan on medium heat and grease with oil. Use a paper towel to soak up any excess oil.

Pour 1/3^rd of the mixture into the pan and swirl so it evenly coats the bottom of the pan.

When the egg is mostly cooked through start to role it up using chopsticks or a spatula.

 Move the egg role to one side of the pan and pour in the next 1/3 of the mixture.  Be sure the mixture connects with your egg role on the side of the pan.

When the egg is mostly cooked again and role the new mixture around the small role.

Finish off with your last 1/3 of mixture and role again.

Let sit for 1-2 minutes before slicing into 1 inch slices.

*Serving Suggestions: this dish is good hot or cold and the perfect side dish to almost any meal.

Mushroom Side Dish

Mushroom Namul 표고버섯 나물

This is another quick and easy banchan.  It's a nice easy one to make while you are cooking other things in the kitchen because it involves some sit time.  This is one of my favorites and Hubby gobbles it up.  It is good cold or hot, although I prefer it warmed up.  This recipe calls for dehydrated shiitake mushrooms.  If you don't have a Korean or Asian market near by you could try using fresh shiitake mushrooms and skip the soaking and only saute them for a short time.  I have yet to try this but I'm thinking that it would work just fine, they just won't keep as long and will be slightly softer in texture.
On that note...on with the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 12 dried shiitake mushrooms soaked in hot water for about 30 minutes until soft.  (Substitute fresh shiitake mushrooms but do not soak)
• 2 tsp sesame seeds
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 spring onion finely chopped
• ½-1 tsp sesame oil
• Pinch of salt

Directions: 

1. Boil 3 cups of water and pour into a bowl.  Add the 12 shiitake mushrooms and cover bowl.  Let the mushrooms sit for 30 min or more until they are reconstituted.

2. Remove the mushrooms from the water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Slice the mushrooms and discard the stems.

3. Heat a small frying pan on medium heat and add the 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil.  Add the mushrooms, garlic, sesame seeds and salt to the pan and sauté so the mushrooms soften a bit more but do not lose their firmness.  About 1-2 minutes.

Remove mushrooms form heat and stir in the spring onion and sesame oil.  Add more salt to taste if needed at this time.

*Storage Tip: These mushrooms are good for 1-5 days if kept refrigerated (if they last you that long)  They can be served cold but I think they are best if you heat them up in a frying pan again before serving. 

* Serving Suggestions: These mushrooms are great with everything.  They are particularly good with a meal you are not serving meat with.  Their texture and flavor will help satiate the cravings of any meat lover you happen to be serving.  Hubby and I love to eat this with rice, kimchi, dried seaweed and an egg for an easy weeknight dinner.

Sigeumchi Namul: Korean Spinach Salad

Let's start off with one of my favorite and easiest to make Banchan (side dish) 

                  Sigeumchi Namul 시금치 나물

It is such an easy dish to make, and you only need 6 ingredients to make it.   It also goes great with everything.  You can mix it in your bibimbap or role it up into your kimbap, or you can just eat it on its own.  It is the perfect blend of fresh and savory, and great with spicy dishes as a way to cool down your mouth ;)

So without further adieu Sigeumchi Naamul How To:

You will need:

                               Main Ingredients:

     1 Package of baby spinach (approximately 10 oz)

      ½ tsp salt

      4 cups of boiling water

                          Seasoning Sauce:

      1 finely chopped spring onion

      1 clove of minced garlic

      ½ to 1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

      Pinch of salt (you can add more or less to taste)

      ½-1 Tbsp sesame oil

                          Instructions:

      Bring the water to boil in a medium to large saucepan.  Once the water starts to boil add ½ tsp of salt.

While the water is boiling combine all the ingredients of the seasoning sauce into a small dish and mix well. 

Rinse the baby spinach and add to the boiling water.  Let blanch for 10-20 seconds and then strain.

Run cold water over spinach for 1-2 minutes.

Squeeze the spinach to remove excess water

Place spinach in a bowl and add seasoning sauce and mix with hands or wooden spoon.

Sprinkle more sesame seeds and salt over the salad if desired.

Serve and enjoy

*Storage Tip: This salad is good for 1-2 days if kept refrigerated.  Throw out once the spinach starts to change from its bright green color to a darker green or yellow color. 

* Serving Suggestions: This salad is great as a banchan (side dish) but also tastes great rolled into kimbap or added to bibimbap or dolset bibimmbap