Spinach prices surge 51.9%, perilla oil wilted lettuce recommended as Chuseok namul
As spinach prices surge by 51.9% ahead of the Chuseok holiday, consumers are looking for alternatives.
With the Chuseok holiday approaching, spinach prices have surged by 51.9%, increasing the burden on consumers preparing holiday meals. According to a video from 'Young-Ja's Kitchen', instead of expensive spinach, one can make healthy namul side dishes using wilted lettuce, which offers a crunchy texture and savory taste.
Key tips for preparing and blanching wilted lettuce
To make delicious wilted lettuce, the preparation and blanching process of the ingredients is important. The video recommends preparing 1kg of tender wilted lettuce. Leave the heads of the lettuce whole without cutting them and place them into boiling water. At this time, you must put the heads in first so that the inside cooks well. Once it is lightly blanched and wilted, it must be removed immediately and placed in cold water to cool down.
Slice the blanched lettuce into 2.5cm pieces, which is a good size for eating. After preparation, the process of squeezing out the moisture is essential. You must remove enough moisture so that water does not pool when seasoning the namul and the taste is maintained. If you do not have a salad spinner, you can squeeze the moisture out directly by hand.
Seasoning method using perilla oil and perilla powder
The seasoning ratio and the order of mixing, which determine the taste of the namul, are also important. The preparations are 1kg of wilted lettuce, 1T of minced garlic, a bit of garlic salt, 2T of perilla powder, 1 stalk of green onion, 1 chili pepper, 1T of fish sauce, and 3T of perilla oil. The green onion and chili pepper are prepared for color, and they are used finely chopped for a spicy taste.
The key to the seasoning is using the oil first. First, add enough perilla oil and lightly toss the lettuce to coat it. Coating with oil first has the effect of producing less water even if salt is added later. After that, add minced garlic, salt, fish sauce, and perilla powder in order. While perilla powder is rich in Omega-3, adding too much can make the taste feel heavy, so it should be adjusted according to preference. Finally, rather than kneading the ingredients vigorously, if you toss them gently, the savory and soft perilla oil wilted lettuce is completed.
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