🥗 Korean Lotus Root Salad (연근샐러드): Nutty, Creamy, and So Simple
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My mom makes this 연근샐러드 (lotus root salad) using just a few simple ingredients—yet the taste is creamy, tangy, nutty, and so refreshing.
Whether you’re new to lotus root or already love Korean banchan (side dishes), this is a perfect beginner-friendly recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Let’s explore how to make it and learn some real-life Korean expressions along the way!
🥢 What Is 연근샐러드?
연근 (yeon-geun) = Lotus root
샐러드 (sael-leo-deu) = Salad
This dish is a chilled salad made from thinly sliced, blanched lotus root tossed with a creamy dressing made of plain yogurt, yuja marmalade, and perilla seed powder.
✅ Light and crunchy
✅ Naturally gluten-free
✅ Quick to prepare
✅ Perfect as a side dish or snack
Mom’s Tip:
“연근은 너무 익히면 안 돼요. ‘살짝’만!”
Blanching just briefly helps keep the texture crispy—not rubbery.
🛒 Ingredients (2–3 servings)
🧄 Main
- Lotus root (연근): 200g (about 1 root)
🥣 Dressing
- Plain yogurt: 5 tbsp
- Yuja marmalade (유자청): 1 tbsp
- Salt: A small pinch
- Perilla seed powder (들깨가루): 1 tbsp
👩🍳 How to Make It
1️⃣ Prepare the Lotus Root
- Peel and slice the lotus root into thin rounds (0.2–0.3 cm).
- Soak in cold water for 5–10 minutes to remove starch.
- Boil water with 1 tsp vinegar, and blanch the lotus root briefly (about 30 seconds to 1 min).
- Rinse in cold water and drain.
- Don’t overcook—just “slightly” is best to keep the crunch.
2️⃣ Make the Dressing
- In a mixing bowl, combine plain yogurt, yuja marmalade, salt, and perilla seed powder.
- Stir well until smooth.
3️⃣ Toss and Serve
- Add the drained lotus root to the dressing.
- Mix gently until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately, or chill for 10–15 minutes for a colder, more refreshing taste.
💡 Optional Add-Ins
- Chopped walnuts or almonds for extra crunch
- Raisins or dried cranberries for a sweet contrast
- A few drops of lemon juice if you don’t have yuja marmalade
🗣️ Korean Expression of the Day
In Korean, you can say:
“연근샐러드가 고소해요!”
“The lotus root salad is nutty and savory!”
Vocabulary
- 연근 (yeon-geun) = lotus root
- 고소해요 (go-so-hae-yo) = savory, nutty
- 무치다 (mu-chi-da) = to mix or season
This is a great phrase to practice if you want to describe traditional Korean side dishes!
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