Sseumbagui Muchim

Sseumbagui Muchim

Quick answer

Total time
30 min
Level
Medium
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
7

About this dish

Sseumbagui muchim seasons 150 grams of bitter lettuce with a dressing made from gochujang, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and sesame oil.

Read more

Open the space between the roots and leaves, rinse several times under cold running water, and remove soil and fine roots with your fingertips. Soak the cleaned greens in cold salted water for 20 to 30 minutes, turning them once midway. Drain them thoroughly and cut the stems and leaves together into 3- to 4-centimeter lengths. For the dressing, stir together 1.5 tablespoons gochujang, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 0.5 teaspoon minced garlic until no sugar grains remain. Mix in 1 teaspoon sesame oil, pour the dressing over the drained greens, and fold gently from the bottom upward so the leaves remain intact. Finish with 1 teaspoon sesame seeds. Keeping the soaking, draining, and dressing steps separate prevents residual water from thinning the sauce and helps the measured seasoning coat both roots and leaves evenly.

Ingredients

servings
IngredientAmountUnit
gochujang tbsptbspShop
vinegar1 tbsptbspShop
sugar1 tbsptbspShop
minced garlic½ tsptspShop
sesame oil1 tsptspShop
sesame seeds1 tsptspShop
Shop All Ingredients

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Instructions

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

6 steps
  1. 1
    Finish

    Rinse 150 g sseumbagui under cold running water several times, opening the space between roots and leaves.

    Rub away soil, fine roots, and grit with your fingertips so the finished salad does not taste sandy.

  2. 2
    Season

    Soak the greens in cold salted water for 20 to 30 minutes, just enough to soften the bitterness.

    Turn them once halfway through, and avoid a longer soak because it can flatten their fresh herbal character.

  3. 3
    Prep

    Drain the greens in a colander and shake off as much water as possible.

    Hold stems and leaves together, then cut them into 3 to 4 cm lengths so each bite has both crisp stem and tender leaf.

  4. 4
    Season

    In a bowl, combine 1.5 tbsp gochujang, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, and 0.5 tsp minced garlic.

    Stir until the sugar grains disappear and the dressing looks smooth, red, and slightly glossy.

  5. 5
    Season

    Stir 1 tsp sesame oil into the dressing, then pour it over the drained sseumbagui.

    Fold from the bottom upward with a gentle motion so the fragile leaves stay whole and the sauce coats every piece.

  6. 6
    Finish

    Check that the bitterness and sweet-tart dressing are evenly balanced.

    Sprinkle with 1 tsp sesame seeds and serve immediately while the leaves are crisp.

Practical Cooking Checks

The cues that matter most while cooking.

Key technique
150 grams of bitter lettuce cleaned carefully between the roots and leaves
Finish cue
Stir until the sugar grains disappear and the dressing looks smooth, red, and slightly glossy.
Avoid this
Turn them once halfway through, and avoid a longer soak because it can flatten their fresh herbal character.

Cooking decision evidence

Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.

This recipe

30min, 7 ingredients

Category median

17min, 7 ingredients

Based on 109 recipes

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Tips

To reduce bitterness, follow the main method and soak in salted water for only 20 to 30 minutes, turning once midway.
Add the dressing to the greens only after the sugar has fully dissolved so sweetness does not concentrate in one spot.

Estimated nutrition (per serving)

Calories
45
kcal
Protein
2
g
Carbs
8
g
Fat
1
g