Try this one of the most popular Korean side dishes – Spicy Bellflower Root Salad! To locals, this dish is known as Doraji Muchim (도라지 무침) or Doraji Saengchae (도라지 생채).
It may be a lesser known side dish to many of you, nonetheless, it is commonly seen at a Korean’s table.
This spicy bellflower root salad is one of my favorite Korean side dishes.
It has a crunchy texture and spicy, tangy and bitter sweet flavor. Though, I will admit that it does have a bit of an acquired taste so you might not like it immediately.
But, it’s a quite easy dish to make as long as you can find the bellflower root! For this, your best bet is your local Korean grocers, not just general asian grocers.
The package looks like this one. Unless of course, if you’re in Korea, you can find fresh bellflower root easily. But fresh roots need more preparation work, so keep that in mind.
Finally, I explained about the bellflower root in more detail in my other bellflower root recipe – Doraji namul (도라지 나물). So if you’re interested in learning about this ingredient, you should check it out.
How To Serve Bellflower Root Salad
Quite simply, serve the salad with a bowl of steamed rice. You might also like to serve other Korean side dishes and Korean soups to accompany it.
Ingredients for Spicy Bellflower Root Salad (Doraji Muchim)
Main
- 170g / 6 ounces bellflower root (doraji)
- 60g / 2.1 ounces cucumber, thinly sliced, (I used English cucumber)
- 1 & 1/2 Tbsp coarse sea salt, split
- 1 tsp green onion, finely chopped
Sauce (Mix these in a small bowl)
- 2 Tbsp Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 1 & 1/2 Tbsp sugar (raw)
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce (regular)
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
*1 Tbsp = 15 ml
**If you want to learn about Korean ingredients, check my 30 essential Korean ingredients list.
How to Make Spicy Bellflower Root Salad (Doraji Muchim)
1. (Assuming you’re using dried bellflower root) Place the dried bellflower root in a large bowl and immerse in water overnight (8 to 12 hours). Drain away the water. Wash the hydrated bellflower root with 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt. (This is to minimise the bitter taste.) Drain away the water and squeeze the water out of the bellflower root. Set it aside.
2. Place the cucumber into a bowl. Add 1/2 Tbsp coarse sea salt. Mix them lightly and leave them for about 10 mins while waiting for the cucumber to release its water. Gently brush off the salt from the cucumber pieces.
3. In a clean bowl, combine the bellflower root, cucumber and the sauce. Mix them well. Garnish with green onions. Serve. It can be refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.
Spicy Bellflower Root Salad
Ingredients
- 170 g dried bellflower root (6 ounces), Korean name - doraji
- 60 g cucumber (2.1 ounces), thinly sliced, I used English cucumber
- 1 1/2 Tbsp coarse sea salt , split
- 1 tsp green onion , finely chopped
SAUCE (MIX THESE IN A SMALL BOWL)
- 2 Tbsp Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar (raw)
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce (regular)
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- (Assuming you’re using dried bellflower root) Place the dried bellflower root in a large bowl and immerse in water overnight (8 to 12 hours). Drain away the water. Wash the hydrated bellflower root with 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt. (This is to minimise the bitter taste.) Drain away the water and squeeze the water out of the bellflower root. Set it aside.
- Place the cucumber into a bowl. Add 1/2 Tbsp coarse sea salt. Mix them lightly and leave them for about 10 mins while waiting for the cucumber to release its water. Gently brush off the salt from the cucumber pieces.
- In a clean bowl, combine the bellflower root, cucumber and the sauce. Mix them well. Garnish with green onions. Serve. It can be refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition Info (per serving)
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I have a good friend from Korea who introduced me to Platycodon. I LOVE it. Aggie’s mother used to prepare them. Now I’m in New Orleans and can’t find them. Any idea where I can order prepared Platycodon?
Thanks,
cp
Usually Amazon or Hmart sells it, but their online stores are not listing the item at the moment. Try Oriental Market – 3324 Transcontinental Dr, Metairie, LA 70006. That appears to be a Korean grocer. (I just did a google search.) Good luck hunting!
I do love spicy foods and I think I might love this Spicy Bellflower root salad. It similar to kimchi.
It is somewhat similar to kimchi but has slight bitter aftertaste, which kimchi doesn’t have. Hope you like it though! 🙂
Nice. I think I have had this at a Korean restaurant without knowing what it was. With plain white rice sounds good. Lately I have been having cravings for Sesame Oil and this seems to have it in spades. Yum. I am using Sesame oil in all my vegetables stir fries these days. It really adds flavor to anything.
So, it’s sort of like kimchi, but not at all! Do you have a photo of a bellflower? I’ve never heard of this, not surprisingly.
Actually, I haven’t seen the bellflower itself. Only the fresh roots and dried roots that are used in cooking. 🙂
I love this dish but have not made it for a couple of years. Thank you Sue, as soon as I send this email I am going to start soaking my root in order to make this dish tomorrow.
Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I am so excited that you have an instant pot and am looking forward to korean recipes that can be made in it! So far I have made hobak juk
Thanks, Christina! I will keep you updated. 🙂