Spicy Radish Salad (Moo Saengchae)
A spicy and sweet radish salad made by julienning daikon radish, marinating it in Korean anchovy fish sauce, then mixing it with various seasonings, green onions, and toasted sesame seeds.
📝 Editor's Notes
Perilla Seed Radish Salad (Deulkkae Munamul) is a Korean home dish that boasts a savory and soft flavor, utilizing radish as a winter delicacy.
Its characteristics include radishes marinated in salt and Korean anchovy fish sauce (myeolchi-aekjeot) for enhanced umami, then steamed moist with minced garlic and water, finally maximized in nuttiness with perilla powder (deulkkae-garu) and perilla oil (deul-gireum).
With its mild yet deep flavor, it's a superb side dish that anyone, young or old, will love.
The cooking process is relatively simple, making it an easy recipe for beginner cooks.
It tastes even better when made with seasonal radishes from autumn to winter, when the cold winds begin to blow.
It's excellent as a side dish for rice and also great for bibimbap (비빔밥) ingredients.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
It's important to choose good quality daikon radish.
Select one with a smooth, firm, white, and glossy surface.
It's better to choose one with few fine roots and fresh radish greens attached.
If it feels heavy when lifted, it has a high water content, allowing you to enjoy a crisp and refreshing taste.
For perilla powder (deulkkae-garu), using domestic whole roasted perilla seeds ground yourself is the freshest and most flavorful option.
If using commercially available perilla powder, once opened, seal and refrigerate it to prevent rancidity and maintain its unique aroma for a longer time.
For Korean anchovy fish sauce (myeolchi-aekjeot), choosing a product that is not too salty and has a good umami flavor will help balance the overall taste.
🔄 Substitution Guide
Instead of daikon radish, you can use kohlrabi or turnip.
Kohlrabi has a stronger sweetness and crispier texture than daikon radish, offering a different taste.
Turnips have a similar taste and texture to daikon radish but are softer.
If you have an allergy to perilla powder (deulkkae-garu) or don't prefer it, you can substitute it with roasted sesame seeds ground into sesame powder.
While it won't have the same nuttiness as perilla powder, it can provide a plain and clean flavor.
You can also use sesame oil instead of perilla oil (deul-gireum), but the unique aroma and flavor of perilla oil are central to this dish, so its use is recommended if possible.
If you don't have Korean anchovy fish sauce (myeolchi-aekjeot), you can substitute it with guk-ganjang (국간장, Korean soup soy sauce), but the deep umami flavor provided by the anchovy fish sauce might be slightly reduced.
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
The two most important cooking points for this Perilla Seed Radish Salad (Deulkkae Munamul) are as follows.
First, the process of marinating the radish.
It's crucial to marinate the radish in salt and Korean anchovy fish sauce (myeolchi-aekjeot) for 10 minutes to remove its pungent taste and allow it to absorb seasoning.
Not discarding the liquid released from the radish and cooking it together is the secret to enhancing its umami.
Second, the steaming time for the radish.
Heat cooking oil in a pan, add the marinated radish, then pour in minced garlic and water.
Once it boils, cover the pan and steam for exactly 3 minutes.
Steaming for too long can make the radish mushy and compromise its texture, so be sure to adhere to the time.
Finally, turn off the heat and mix in perilla powder (deulkkae-garu), perilla oil (deul-gireum), toasted sesame seeds (kkaesogeum), and green onion using the residual heat, which will bring out a rich nutty aroma and make it even more delicious.
👨🍳 Directions
Julienne 1/2 daikon radish. Add 2 tbsp of Korean anchovy fish sauce (myeolchi-aekjeot) and marinate for a total of 15 minutes, tossing once in between.
Drain the marinated radish through a sieve to remove excess liquid. Transfer to a bowl and add 3 tbsp of Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru), 2 tbsp of Korean green plum extract (maesil-cheong), 1 tbsp of sugar, 2 tbsp of vinegar, 1 tbsp of minced garlic, and a handful of green onion.
Add 2 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds (kkaesogeum) and 1 tbsp of Korean anchovy fish sauce (myeolchi-aekjeot), then mix well to finish.
💡 Tips
Marinating the radish in anchovy fish sauce first allows the umami flavor to fully infuse, making it much more delicious.
📦 Storage & Reuse
Store the finished Perilla Seed Radish Salad (Deulkkae Munamul) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freezing is not recommended as it can make the radish mushy.
To reheat, microwave for about 1 minute or sauté lightly over low heat to restore its original taste and aroma.
Leftover radish salad can be mixed with warm rice, a little gochujang (고추장), and sesame oil for an excellent bibimbap (비빔밥).
It's also delicious when finely chopped and used as filling for dumplings or kimbap (김밥).
If you want to enjoy radish salad in a slightly different way, it makes a very tasty topping for Janchi Guksu (잔치국수).
🥢 Who This Is For
Thanks to its warm and soft flavor, Perilla Seed Radish Salad (Deulkkae Munamul) is especially well-suited for the table during change of seasons or winter.
It's easy to digest, making it an excellent side dish for children and the elderly.
Its mild flavor pairs well with plain grilled fish or savory braised dishes, balancing the tastes.
It's also incredibly delicious when mixed with freshly cooked warm rice.
It's perfect as a simple breakfast or a light dinner side dish.
It's also great for serving at holiday feasts or as a neat banchan (반찬, side dish) when inviting guests.
🔥 Nutrition Info
One serving of Perilla Seed Radish Salad (Deulkkae Munamul) (assuming 4 servings per recipe) is estimated to have an energy content of about 150-200 kcal.
It may contain approximately 5-8g of protein, 10-15g of fat, and 10-15g of carbohydrates.
Radish is rich in vitamin C and digestive enzymes, aiding digestion and preventing colds.
Perilla powder (deulkkae-garu) and perilla oil (deul-gireum) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help improve blood circulation and brain health.
They are also high in dietary fiber, beneficial for gut health.
Sodium content may be somewhat high due to the radish marinating process, so if you are health-conscious, it is advisable to adjust the amounts of salt and fish sauce consumed.
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