Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Sangchu Geotjeori/Korean Lettuce Salad

Welcome to Korean Veggie Mama! 

For our very first blog post, we wanted to use the fresh red leaf lettuce from our garden to make Sangchu Geotjeori/Korean Lettuce Salad.  Sangchu Geotjeori is a sweet and vinegary salad.  Although it’s often served as a side to grilled meat in Korean restaurants, for vegetarians and non-vegetarians it’s just as lovely as a side dish with rice or as an appetizer.    

Sangchu Geotjeori/Korean Lettuce Salad
상추겉절이

Servings: 2-3


Ingredients:

 1 head Red or Green Leaf Lettuce

Sauce 
1 ½ tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 ½ tablespoons Sugar **not brown sugar
1 teaspoon minced Garlic (approx. 2 cloves)
1 tablespoon Gochugaru (Korean Red Pepper Powder)
1 teaspoon Shiitake Mushroom Powder, optional
¼ cup finely chopped Green Onion (approx. 2 stalks)
1 tablespoon Korean Apple Vinegar
1 teaspoon Sesame Seed Oil

Garnish
1 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Seeds, optional

**See below for substitutions  

Preparation: 

1.  Wash and drain lettuce, then tear into bite size pieces in a large bowl.

2.  Fine chop the green onion.

3.  Mince garlic. 

Directions:

1.  In a small bowl, mix soy sauce and sugar until the sugar starts dissolving.

2.  Add minced garlic, gochugaru(Korean red pepper powder), 
     Shiitake mushroom powder(optional), chopped green onion and mix.

3.  Add apple vinegar and mix.

4.  Add sesame seed oil and mix.

5.  Drizzle sauce over lettuce leaves and toss lightly.












6.  Plate the salad.

7.  Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, optional.

 8.  Enjoy!

**Tips/Notes/Substitutions:

*Red or green leaf lettuce is usually used but you can use romaine lettuce or any sort salad mix.

*Why not brown sugar?  The strong flavor of brown sugar overwhelms this dish.  White sugar, organic sugar or other sugar substitutions are fine. 

*Although Korean apple vinegar(not apple cider vinegar) is more traditional, you can use any vinegar you fancy.  

*Gochugaru (Korean red pepper powder/chile flakes) unfortunately is not the same as the chile flakes you get with your pizza.  Standard chili powder is also very different since it often includes salt and other spices.  

*Shiitake mushroom powder aka Oak Mushroom Powder adds extra depth of flavor, especially for vegetarian dishes AND it’s healthy!  If you can't find mushroom powder then you can make your own.  Using a spice grinder, grind dried Shiitake mushrooms into a fine powder.   

*Are your sesame seeds untoasted?  Place sesame seeds in a pan over medium low heat until lightly browned.

*All the Korean ingredients can be found in your local Korean grocery store like Hmart or some even online

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