Cold-dressed Undaria is a traditional dish with a long history. According to historical records, people began consuming Undaria as early as ancient times. Over time, cold-dressed Undaria salad has gradually become a beloved delicacy. This dish features Undaria as the main ingredient, which is blanched, shredded, and seasoned to create a unique texture and flavor. Cold-dressed Undaria has various health benefits, such as clearing heat, detoxification, diuretic properties, and reducing swelling, making it beneficial for overall well-being. Additionally, it is nutritionally rich, containing a variety of vitamins and minerals, which helps boost the immune system.
Ingredients for Cold-dressed Undaria：
| Undaria | 300g |
| Salt | 2g |
| Sugar | 6g |
| Light soy sauce | 2g |
| Oyster sauce | 2g |
| Mature vinegar | 4g |
| Onion | 10g |
| Coriander | 8g |
| Small chili pepper | 4g |
| Sesame oil | 3g |
Step:
1.First, place the dried Undaria in a large bowl. Slowly add water to the bowl, ensuring that the water level completely covers the Undaria, allowing it to soak thoroughly. Soaking the Undaria in water helps it regain its fluffy and tender state. Over time, the Undaria will absorb water and increase in volume. Remember to have the water level higher than the Undaria to ensure full rehydration. It is recommended to soak the Undaria for a certain period of time, which may vary depending on the thickness and hardness of the Undaria. Typically, this process takes around 20-30 minutes, but it’s best to judge based on visual cues. When you observe that the Undaria has significantly expanded, softened, and become more tender in texture, you can stop the soaking process.
2.After the Undaria has been soaked, remove it from the water and thoroughly rinse it with clean water to remove excess salt and impurities. Next, drain the Undaria to remove excess moisture. You can use paper towels or lightly pat it to help control the moisture. Place the prepared Undaria on a cutting board and begin slicing it into small strips. Choose the size of the strips according to your preference, generally around 2-3 centimeters in length for thin, elongated strips works well. Meanwhile, thinly slice the onion for later use. You can choose to slice it finely or slightly thicker, depending on personal taste and preference. Place the sliced onion and Undaria strips in the same plate. This combination will complement each other in terms of texture and flavor, enhancing the overall taste.
3.In the bowl containing the Undaria and sliced onions, begin seasoning. First, add a tablespoon of salt to enhance the flavor and balance the taste. Next, add three tablespoons of white sugar to add sweetness and enrich the flavor. Continue by adding a tablespoon of light soy sauce, which will impart a deep soy sauce flavor to the dish. Then, add a tablespoon of dark soy sauce to add richness and smoothness. The next step is to add two tablespoons of black vinegar, which provides a slightly sour taste and enhances the overall texture. Finally, pour in an appropriate amount of sesame oil to add a rich aroma to the dish. Pour all the seasoning ingredients into the bowl and mix thoroughly using utensils or chopsticks, ensuring that every piece of Undaria is fully coated with the seasoning. Next, cut some coriander and chili pepper rings and add them to the bowl. Coriander adds a fresh aroma, while chili peppers add a mild spicy flavor. Lastly, give everything a final stir to ensure all the ingredients and seasonings are well mixed together.
4.Carefully arrange the evenly mixed cold-dressed Undaria on a serving plate, choosing a beautiful plate to showcase it. You can spread the Undaria evenly in the center of the plate, making it look neat and visually appealing. To enhance the visual effect, you can garnish around the Undaria with coriander leaves, chili pepper rings, or sesame seeds, adding color and layers to the dish. Once everything is mixed and arranged, the appetizing and refreshing cold-dressed Undaria salad is ready to be served. We can place it nicely on the plate and enjoy it.
Tips:
1、The soaking time should not be too long, as the Undaria may become overly soft and lose its texture. Depending on the texture and thickness of the Undaria, control the soaking time to around 20-30 minutes.
2、After soaking, thoroughly rinse the soaked Undaria with clean water to remove excess salt and impurities. This will enhance the refreshing taste.
Cold-dressed Undaria is a nutritious, healthy, and delicious cold dish. Undaria is rich in nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, which contribute to maintaining good health. In the preparation process, fresh Undaria is cut into appropriate sizes and mixed with a moderate amount of seasonings until it reaches the desired level of crispness. This method preserves the original texture and nutritional value of the Undaria while giving it a new flavor characteristic. When tasted, cold-dressed Undaria salad exhibits vibrant color and enticing aroma, offering a crunchy and flavorful experience while being nutritionally abundant.