Grilled Squid & Bellflower Root Salad
Salads Medium

Grilled Squid & Bellflower Root Salad

Quick answer

Total time
30 min
Level
Medium
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
10

About this dish

Grilled squid and bellflower root citrus salad combines seared squid with soaked bellflower root, romaine, and orange segments in a yuzu-gochugaru dressing, drawing on classic Korean flavors to build a salad with genuine textural and flavor complexity.

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The squid tubes are scored in a crosshatch pattern before cooking, which ensures that heat penetrates evenly so the flesh cooks uniformly without curling into a tight coil; limiting each side to one to two minutes over high heat is equally important, as even a minute more will produce a rubbery result. Bellflower root is a traditional Korean ingredient with a pleasantly bitter edge that requires brief preparation: shredded into thin strips and soaked in lightly salted water for five minutes, it releases enough bitterness to become mild and yielding while retaining a satisfying crunch. The dressing is the component that unifies the dish: yuzu marmalade contributes a floral, layered acidity quite different from straightforward lemon or lime juice, while rice vinegar sharpens the finish, olive oil emulsifies and rounds the texture, and gochugaru adds a slow-building warmth that lingers after the citrus flavors fade. This combination bridges the savory, slightly smoky character of the squid and the subtle bitterness of the bellflower root. Fresh orange segments provide the final note, bursting with bright juice on each bite to lift the entire salad. The visual contrast between the ivory bellflower root, the charred squid, and the vivid orange makes the finished plate as attractive to look at as it is to eat.

Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps
  1. 1
    Season

    Score the inside of 300 g squid bodies in a diagonal crosshatch at 1 cm intervals, then marinate with 1/4 tsp salt, a pinch of pepper, and 1 tbsp olive oil for 10 minutes.

  2. 2
    Season

    Tear 80 g doraji bellflower root into thin strips by hand, soak in brine (200 ml water and 1 tsp salt) for 5 minutes to remove bitterness, then rinse under running water and squeeze dry.

  3. 3
    Control

    Heat a pan over high heat for 5 minutes until smoking, then sear the squid for 1 to 2 minutes per side so it curls naturally, and cut into 3 to 4 cm pieces.

  4. 4
    Prep

    Mix 1 tbsp yuzu marmalade, 1.5 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1/2 tsp gochugaru in a bowl to create a sweet and tangy dressing.

  5. 5
    Heat

    Combine 80 g romaine, doraji, orange segments, and grilled squid in a large bowl, pour the dressing over, and toss lightly to avoid breaking the delicate ingredients.

  6. 6
    Finish

    Transfer to a plate immediately and serve right away while the vegetables are crisp and the squid is still tender.

Practical Cooking Checks

The cues that matter most while cooking.

Key technique
Grilled Squid and Bellflower Root Salad balances seared seafood with bitter-crisp doraji.
Finish cue
Transfer to a plate immediately and serve right away while the vegetables are crisp and the squid is still tender.
Avoid this
Combine 80 g romaine, doraji, orange segments, and grilled squid in a large bowl, pour the dressing over, and toss lightly to avoid breaking the delicate ingredients.

Cooking decision evidence

Calculated Charim data and applicable official food safety guidance.

This recipe

30min, 10 ingredients

Category median

25min, 8 ingredients

Based on 167 recipes

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Tips

Cook squid quickly over high heat to keep it tender.
After soaking the doraji in salt water, rinse it under running water and squeeze dry so it does not dilute the dressing.

Estimated nutrition (per serving)

Calories
192
kcal
Protein
17
g
Carbs
10
g
Fat
9
g