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Pa muchim
Spring onion salad
Pa muchim (파무침): hair-fine spring onion tossed with chilli flakes, vinegar and sesame oil
Pa muchim is the tangle of sharp, spicy spring onion that arrives with barbecue in restaurants all over Korea, from Seoul to Busan, and it is just as good at home beside grilled tofu, mushrooms or a rice bowl. Spring onion is shredded into long, thin threads, rinsed in cold water to tame its bite, then dressed at the last moment with chilli flakes, vinegar, soy, sugar and sesame. It is a light, vegan side with about 2 g of protein per portion. The common mistake is dressing it too early: after 10 minutes the onion wilts and weeps. Chef's tip: soak the shredded onion in iced water for 10 minutes before dressing; it curls, crisps and loses its harsh raw heat.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 8 spring onionslong, slim ones (about 150 g)
For the dressing
- 1 ½ tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Cut 8 spring onions into 8 cm lengths, then slice each piece lengthways into hair-thin threads (a fine julienne).
Step 2: Soak the threads in iced water for 10 minutes, until they curl and look crisp. Drain and spin or pat completely dry.
10 minStep 3: Stir 1 tbsp Korean chilli flakes (gochugaru), 1 ½ tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp soy sauce, 2 tsp sugar and 2 tsp toasted sesame oil together until the sugar dissolves.
Step 4: Just before serving, toss the onion lightly with the dressing using your fingertips, scatter with 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds and serve at once.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 45 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pa muchim take?
- About 10 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
- What can I use instead of rice vinegar?
- Cider vinegar with a pinch of sugar, same amount.
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