**Introduction**
Korean cuisine is renowned for its diverse and flavorful side dishes known as “banchan.” Many traditional banchan are made using preserved or dried ingredients, making them perfect for the “Ingredient Storage Tips” category. One such quintessential dish is **Gosari Namul**, a seasoned fernbrake side dish. Fernbrake (also called bracken fern) is often dried and stored in Korean homes, prized for its earthy flavor and chewy texture. This dish is not only delicious but also easy to prepare from dried ingredients, making it an excellent example of smart ingredient storage and usage in Korean cooking.
**Main Content**
**Ingredients (for 1 serving):**
– Dried gosari (fernbrake) – 30g
– Water (for soaking and boiling) – about 500ml
– Soy sauce – 8g (about 1 tablespoon)
– Sesame oil – 5g (about 1 teaspoon)
– Minced garlic – 3g (about 1/2 teaspoon)
– Toasted sesame seeds – 2g (about 1 teaspoon)
– Sugar – 1g (a pinch)
– Salt – a small pinch (optional as soy sauce adds saltiness)
– Cooking oil (vegetable or canola) – 5g (about 1 teaspoon)
**Step-by-step Recipe:**
1. **Soak the dried gosari:** Rinse 30g of dried gosari under cold water. Place it in a large bowl and cover with fresh water. Soak for at least 6 hours or overnight until the fernbrake softens.
2. **Cook the gosari:** Drain the soaked gosari. Place it in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 30 minutes or until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to remove any remaining bitterness. Squeeze out excess water and cut the gosari into 4-5 cm lengths.
3. **Prepare seasoning:** In a bowl, combine soy sauce (8g), minced garlic (3g), sugar (1g), and toasted sesame seeds (2g). Mix well.
4. **Stir-fry gosari:** Heat 5g cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the gosari and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
5. **Season the gosari:** Add the seasoning mixture to the pan and stir well to evenly coat the gosari. Cook for another 2 minutes to let the flavors meld.
6. **Finish with sesame oil:** Turn off the heat and drizzle 5g sesame oil over the gosari. Give a final toss and transfer to a serving dish.
**Serving suggestion:** Enjoy Gosari Namul as a side dish with steamed rice and other Korean dishes. It’s commonly served at traditional Korean meals and is one of the key vegetable banchan during celebrations like Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).
**Conclusion**
Gosari Namul is a wonderful pantry-friendly dish that highlights the ingenuity of Korean ingredient storage and seasoning techniques. Using dried fernbrake not only extends shelf life but also brings a unique texture and flavor that fresh vegetables can’t replicate. This humble yet flavorful banchan enriches any meal with authentic Korean taste. Give it a try and add a touch of tradition and wisdom to your kitchen!
