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Mu namul
Stir-fried radish strips
Mu namul (무나물): julienned Korean radish stir-fried with garlic and sesame until tender
Mu namul is the soft, white radish side dish that appears among the banchan of a Korean home table in autumn and winter, when the fat Korean radishes are at their sweetest, and it is always part of the namul set laid out for Chuseok and ancestral rites in Andong and Seoul. Thin matchsticks of radish are stir-fried with garlic and a pinch of salt, then steamed briefly in their own juice until tender and translucent, and finished with sesame. It is mild, sweet and very gentle on the stomach. A portion is about 50 kcal. The most common mistake is cutting the radish against the grain, so it breaks into short bits; cut lengthways, along the grain, so the strands stay long. Chef's tip: salt the radish first and let it sit for a few minutes; it releases water that it then cooks in, so you need almost no oil.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb Korean radish (mu) or daikonpeeled, cut along the grain into thin matchsticks
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tsp sunflower oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 garlic clovesminced
- ¼ in fresh ginger (optional)minced
- 1 spring onionfinely chopped
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toss 1 ⅛ lb Korean radish (mu) or daikon with ¾ tsp salt in a bowl and leave for 5 minutes, until it starts to release water. Don't squeeze.
5 minStep 2: Heat 1 tsp sunflower oil and 1 tsp toasted sesame oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add 2 garlic cloves and ¼ in fresh ginger and stir for 20 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the radish with its juice and stir-fry for 2 minutes until coated.
2 minStep 4: Add 3 tablespoons of water, cover and cook on a low heat for 5–6 minutes, until the radish is translucent and soft but still holds its shape.
6 minStep 5: Uncover, add 1 spring onion and cook for 1 minute to drive off any liquid. Sprinkle with 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds and serve warm or at room temperature.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 50 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mu namul take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- 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 gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of toasted sesame oil?
- Toasted sesame seeds ground with a little vegetable oil.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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