Springy Dotorimuk Muchim (Seasoned Acorn Jelly Salad)
A seasoned salad for 2 to 3 people made with blanched acorn jelly, crisp vegetables, and a sweet and tangy dressing.
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 →
Tender, springy blanched acorn jelly tossed with fresh vegetables in a sweet and tangy soy sauce dressing. To keep the jelly from breaking, toss the vegetables first and layer them neatly on a plate with the sliced jelly. It makes a light, guilt-free snack or a great anju with makgeolli.
- Servings
- 2–3 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spiciness
- Mildly spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Acorn jelly (dotorimuk)500 g
- Cucumber1/2
- Lettuce4 leaves
- Scallions (jjokpa)4
- Carrota little
Seasoning
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)2 tbsp
- Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang) (or brewed soy sauce (yangjo-ganjang))3 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tbsp
- Vinegar2 tbsp
- Green plum syrup (maesil-cheong)2 tbsp
- Toasted sesame oil1 tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds1 tbsp
- You only need a small amount of vegetables to accompany it; onion, crown daisy, chamnamul, or water dropwort (minari) all work well.
Steps
Prepare the ingredients
Here is one store-bought pack of acorn jelly.
I'm using cucumber, lettuce, scallions, and carrot based on what I had in the fridge.
You only need a small amount of vegetables to accompany it; onion, crown daisy, chamnamul, or water dropwort (minari) all work well.
Slice the ingredients
Slice the acorn jelly into bite-sized pieces.
If sliced too thin, it breaks easily, so cut it slightly thick, and slice the vegetables to a size that pairs well with the acorn jelly.
Blanch the acorn jelly
Packaged store-bought jelly should be briefly blanched to enjoy a springy texture.
Carefully lower the acorn jelly into rolling boiling water.
Once it begins boiling, stir occasionally, and after about 1 minute, the stiff jelly turns glossy, flexible, and wonderfully springy.
Soak it in cold water so the heat dissipates all the way through, then drain well.
Make the dressing
In a mixing bowl, combine 2 tbsp gochugaru, 3 tbsp regular soy sauce, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 2 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp green plum syrup, and the toasted sesame seeds, mixing well so the seasoning blends together.
Toss the vegetables
Add all of the prepared vegetables and toss gently.
Taste the vegetables; if bland, adjust with soy sauce or salt, and add vinegar or sugar to your liking.
Finish by drizzling in the toasted sesame oil.
If you toss the jelly together, it can break easily, so when plating, layer the seasoned vegetables and the acorn jelly alternately to plate it cleanly without breaking any pieces.
Finish
Dotorimuk muchim is complete.
It pairs wonderfully with the sweet and tangy tossed vegetables.
It is also delicious topped with seasoned aged sour kimchi and gim flakes over the acorn jelly.
If you snack on the jelly and vegetables like this and still feel a bit hungry, tossing rice and a fried egg into the leftover vegetables makes a simple meal to finish.
Ppunwife's tips
- Packaged store-bought jelly should be briefly blanched to enjoy a springy texture.
- If you toss the jelly together, it can break easily, so when plating, layer the seasoned vegetables and acorn jelly alternately to plate it cleanly without breaking any pieces.
FAQ
Is there a way to plate the jelly without breaking it?
Tossing the jelly directly in the sauce can easily break it, so layer the tossed vegetables and sliced jelly alternately on the plate for a neat presentation.
Why blanch store-bought acorn jelly?
Briefly blanching store-bought jelly in boiling water for about 1 minute and cooling it in cold water removes the stiffness and restores its gloss and elasticity.
What ingredients can I add besides the basic vegetables?
In addition to cucumber and lettuce, you can add onion, crown daisy, chamnamul, or water dropwort, and seasoned aged sour kimchi and gim flakes also make great toppings according to your preference.
How thick should the acorn jelly be sliced?
If sliced too thin, it can easily crumble while handling, so it is best to cut it slightly on the thicker side.
