Spicy Stir-Fried Dassima

Ingredients

• 30g (1 oz) dried dassima (kelp) 30g (1 oz) dried dassima (kelp)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red chili pepper, thinly sliced 1 red chili pepper, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, for garnish 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, for garnish
• Spring onions, chopped, for garnish Spring onions, chopped, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 150 kcal / 628 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 8g, 1g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 17g, 6g
• Protein: 3g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Soak the dried dassima in cold water for 30 minutes until softened. Drain and cut into bite-sized pieces.
2. 2.
   In a large pan or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
3. 3.
   Add the minced garlic, sliced onion, and red chili pepper to the pan. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the onion becomes translucent.
4. 4.
   In a small bowl, mix together the gochujang, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil to make the spicy sauce.
5. 5.
   Add the softened dassima to the pan and pour the spicy sauce over it. Stir-fry for another 3-4 minutes until the dassima is well-coated with the sauce and heated through.
6. 6.
   Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.
7. 7.
   Serve hot as a side dish or with steamed rice.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Dassima (kelp) — Make sure to soak the dried dassima in cold water to soften it before stir-frying. This will ensure a pleasant chewy texture in the final dish.

Tips & Tricks

• If you prefer a milder version, reduce the amount of gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) in the sauce.
• Customize the level of spiciness by adding more or less red chili pepper according to your taste.
• For added depth of flavor, you can incorporate other vegetables such as bell peppers or mushrooms into the stir-fry.
• Serve this dish with a side of steamed rice to balance the spiciness.

Serving advice

Spicy Stir-Fried Dassima is best served hot as a side dish alongside a Korean meal. It pairs well with steamed rice and other banchan (Korean side dishes). The vibrant colors and bold flavors make it an eye-catching addition to any dining table.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation of this dish, garnish it with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and freshly chopped spring onions. The contrasting colors of green and white will add visual appeal to the stir-fried dassima.