Chwinamul Smoked Mackerel Salad
Flaked smoked mackerel brings a rich, oily smokiness that contrasts sharply with the clean herbal notes of blanched chwinamul. Cooked lentils add earthy bulk, while halved cherry tomatoes burst with juice to cut through the fish's richness. A vinaigrette of Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil ties the components together. The salad delivers substantial protein and fiber in a single bowl, making it filling enough to serve as a standalone meal.
Adjust Servings
Instructions
- 1
Blanch chwinamul for 20 seconds, rinse cold, squeeze dry, and cut into bite-size pieces.
- 2
Check and remove bones from smoked mackerel, then flake into chunks.
- 3
Slice onion thin and soak in cold water for 5 minutes; halve cherry tomatoes.
- 4
Whisk mustard, vinegar, honey, olive oil, and pepper until emulsified.
- 5
Toss chwinamul, lentils, tomato, and onion first, then add mackerel and fold gently.
- 6
Taste and finish with a pinch of salt if needed, then serve.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Tips
Nutrition (per serving)
More Recipes

Charred Broccolini Doenjang Lentil Salad
Charred broccolini doenjang lentil salad halves broccolini lengthwise, coats it in olive oil, and chars it in a hot pan for 4-5 minutes until the edges darken and turn slightly bitter-sweet. Cooked lentils bring a starchy, filling texture, and a thick dressing of doenjang, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and minced garlic layers fermented depth with sharp acidity. Roughly chopped walnuts release oily richness when bitten, and the apple cider vinegar tempers the salt of the doenjang. Draining the lentils thoroughly prevents the dressing from thinning, and resting the assembled salad five minutes before serving lets the grains absorb the seasoning more fully.

Grilled Mackerel Perilla Salad
Grilled mackerel perilla salad salts mackerel fillets for five minutes, then pan-sears them skin-side first until crisp, breaks the fish into pieces, and scatters them over romaine, perilla leaves, cucumber, and radish sprouts. Patting the fillet dry and salting it draws surface moisture out, so the skin crisps rapidly in the pan and any fishiness fades. Cooking skin-side down for four minutes before flipping for just two keeps the flesh moist inside. A dressing of soy sauce, yuzu marmalade, and sesame oil uses the yuzu's aromatic acidity to cut through the oily richness of the mackerel. Slicing perilla into thin ribbons with a knife distributes its herbal fragrance evenly across every bite.

Naengi Beef Salad (Shepherd's purse)
Fresh naengi - shepherd's purse - is blanched to mellow its earthy bite while keeping the fragrance intact. Beef sirloin is sliced thin and seared quickly so the surface chars lightly and the center stays moist. Julienned Korean pear bridges the beef's richness and the naengi's mild bitterness with clean sweetness. A dressing of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and plum extract balances salty, sour, and subtly sweet, while red onion and toasted sesame seeds finish with sharpness and nutty crunch.

Buchu Beef Mustard Salad (Seared Beef & Chive Mustard Salad)
Buchu beef mustard salad sears lean beef round over high heat to char the surface while keeping the center pink, then slices it thick and fans it over a bed of fresh garlic chives and shredded red cabbage. Hot mustard dissolved into a soy-vinegar dressing delivers a sharp nasal heat that cuts through the rendered beef fat with each bite. Julienned Korean pear tossed through the salad contributes a crisp, refreshing sweetness that balances the dressing's salt and acid. The garlic chives bring their own pungent, onion-like aroma that gives the plate a distinctly Korean character. Slicing the beef at least 1 cm thick prevents it from toughening as it cools.

Korean Potato Salad (Creamy Mashed Potato Ham Cucumber)
Korean potato salad (gamja salad) arrived via Japan's yoshoku tradition but evolved its own identity in Korean home kitchens. Potatoes are boiled and mashed while hot, leaving some lumps for textural contrast - uniformly smooth is not the goal. Diced ham is pan-seared to render excess fat, then mixed with salt-drained cucumber and boiled carrot. The dressing is simply mayonnaise adjusted with sugar and salt, producing the distinctly sweet-creamy profile that separates Korean potato salad from Western versions. Chilling for at least an hour before serving lets the seasoning equalize throughout the mixture.

Korean Soybean Drink (Creamy Blended Soybean Milk)
Kongmul is a traditional Korean soybean drink made by soaking dried soybeans for at least eight hours, boiling them until tender, and blending them smooth with toasted sesame seeds and pine nuts. Straining through a fine cloth produces a silky, cream-colored liquid with deep nutty richness. A pinch of salt and a drizzle of honey sharpen the clean bean flavor without masking it. Served chilled over ice, it doubles as a protein-rich meal replacement during the hot months.