Crunchy Pickled Bean Sprout Salad Food

KOREAN BEAN SPROUTS SALAD (SOOKJU NAMUL)

Steps:

• Bring a medium size pot of water with 1 teaspoon of salt to boil.
• Add mung bean sprouts and blanch for 2 minutes. It's important to use a timer here so you don't overcook them. Drain and rinse under cold water until the bean sprouts are cold. Drain again.
• Gently squeeze the sprouts to remove excess water and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Transfer to a bowl and add sesame oil. Toss the beans sprouts until they are evenly coated and sprinkle garlic, scallions, sesame seeds, and salt.
• Toss again and serve cold.

BEAN SPROUT SALAD

Steps:

• [Optional] Remove the brown part and stringy root part. I recommend doing this extra step when you eat raw bean sprouts or when they are seasoned with light flavor sauce. You can taste the clean bean sprouts.
• Rinse the bean sprouts under cold water and drain well.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add bean sprouts to cook for 1 to 1.5 minutes.
• Drain into a colander and set aside for 5 minutes as you don't want to dilute the sauce with remaining water.
• Meanwhile, cut the green onion/scallion into small pieces. Grind the sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle. Grate the garlic, or use a garlic press to crush the garlic.
• In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients for the seasonings and mix well. It might look little but it's more than enough.
• Add the bean sprout and green onion/scallion in the bowl and combine all together. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

CRUNCHY PICKLED BEAN SPROUT SALAD

Steps:

• To make the brine, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, salt, vinegar, and water and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely.
• Up to 2 hours in advance of serving, combine the bean sprouts, carrot, and scallions in a bowl. Pour the cooled brine over the vegetables and then use your fingers to toss the vegetables in the brine. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes, turning the vegetables 2 or 3 times to expose them evenly to the brine. At first, there won't be enough brine to cover the vegetables, but they will eventually shrink in volume. When the vegetables are ready for eating, the brine will almost cover them and they will have a pleasantly tangy flavor and lots of crunch. Taste to make sure they have sat long enough.
• Once you are satisfied with the flavor, drain the vegetables and pile them high on a plate. Serve them within 2 hours to enjoy them at their peak.

DUA GIA (PICKLED BEAN SPROUT SALAD)

Steps:

• To make the brine, combine the sugar, salt, vinegar and 1 cup water in a large saucepan and warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from the heat and completely cool.
• At least 40 minutes and up to 2 hours before serving, add the bean sprouts, carrot and scallions to the brine. Use your fingers to toss the vegetables. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes, turning the vegetables 2 or 3 times to expose them evenly to the brine. At first, the vegetables won't be covered by the brine, but then they will shrink. They're ready when they're almost covered with brine and taste pleasantly tangy and are a mix of crunchy and soft. If needed, let them sit for 10 minutes longer.
• Drain the vegetables and pile them high on a plate. Serve at room temperature within 2 hours to enjoy them at their peak.