Crisp and Chewy Haepari Naengchae (Chilled Jellyfish Salad)
A refreshing chilled salad featuring crunchy vegetables and chewy jellyfish soaked in vinegar water, all tossed in a pungent mustard sauce.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
Blanched jellyfish is soaked in cold vinegar water to bring out its signature crunchy, chewy texture. Paired with sweet Korean pear, crisp cucumber, and a pungent garlic-mustard sauce, it makes for a clean and refreshing dish. It is ideal for entertaining guests or serving as a light accompaniment to drinks.
- Servings
- about 3–4 servings
- Cook time
- 5 minprep not included
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spiciness
- Mildly spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Jellyfish500 g
- Cucumber1/2
- Korean pear1/2
- Imitation crab stick2
Sauce
- Vinegar2 tbsp
- Sugar1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tbsp
- Salt1 tsp
- Toasted sesame oila little of each
- Toasted sesame seedsa little of each
- Mustard sauce1 tbsp
- Soak the salted jellyfish in fresh water, changing it frequently to remove the salt. Massaging it by hand while changing the clean water will help draw out the salt much faster.
- I used just three garnishes here, but if you add various ingredients like egg garnish (jidan), carrots, or mushrooms, it makes a generous and colorful chilled jellyfish salad perfect for housewarmings or dinner parties.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of sauce to your taste.
Steps
Soak the salted jellyfish in fresh water, changing it frequently to remove the salt.
Massaging it by hand while changing the water will help draw out the salt much faster.
Briefly dip the jellyfish in boiling water, then immediately rinse it in cold water. Squeeze out the excess moisture tightly.
Submerge the jellyfish in 6 cups of cold water mixed with 4 tbsp vinegar and let it soak for at least 5 minutes.
This gives the jellyfish its delightfully chewy, crunchy texture.
Peel the cucumber skin using a continuous circular cut (dollyeokkagi), then cut it into matchsticks.
Julienne the Korean pear and imitation crab sticks to the same length and thickness.
I used just these three ingredients, but adding various extras like egg garnish (jidan), carrots, or mushrooms will make a lavish and colorful chilled jellyfish salad great for dinner guests or housewarmings.
I mixed all the prepared vegetables and arranged them on the serving plate.
If you have a wider variety of ingredients, you can also arrange them neatly around the edge of the plate.
Mix all the sauce ingredients listed above to prepare the dressing.
Place the jellyfish right on top of the plate and drizzle the sauce over everything to serve.
In this version, I tossed the jellyfish and all the ingredients together all at once so it is easy to eat.
I prefer eating it like this, classic home-style.
Ppunwife's tips
- Finely mincing the garlic with the tip of your knife prevents it from getting sticky and gives it a much better texture when chewed.
- After briefly dipping the jellyfish in boiling water and rinsing it in cold water, soaking it in 6 cups of cold water with 4 tbsp vinegar for at least 5 minutes will give it a delightfully chewy, crunchy texture.
FAQ
How do you prepare jellyfish to bring out its delightfully chewy texture?
Dip it briefly in boiling water, immediately rinse it in cold water, squeeze out the moisture, and let it soak for at least 5 minutes in a mixture of 6 cups cold water and 4 tbsp vinegar.
Is there a trick to drawing out the salt from salted jellyfish quickly?
Gently massage the jellyfish by hand while changing the clean water frequently, and the salt will come out much faster.
Is there anything to keep in mind when preparing garlic for the sauce?
If you finely mince the garlic with the tip of your knife, it will not release sticky sap and will retain a pleasant texture when chewed.
What additional ingredients work well alongside the basic vegetables?
Adding thinly sliced egg garnish (jidan), carrots, or mushrooms creates a lavish chilled salad that is great for entertaining.
