Seasoned Dropwort(Minarinamul)with Hamcho Salt
….As I cook, I’m often surprised by the variety of ingredients, but I’ve also experienced how the taste can be influenced by the diversity of salt. Have you heard of “hamcho” salt? I had heard of it before because it’s quite popular, but it was my first time tasting it. @rinda.rejouissances sent it to me with her thoughtful heart all the way from Korea. Salt made from a plant called “hamcho”! Surprisingly, it has a mild salty taste probably because it has a low sodium content. Normally, plants don’t grow in salty water, but “hamcho,” being a halophyte, grows around tidal flats. “Hamcho” is also known as the “ginseng of the sea” because it contains various minerals. It has been known as a “mysterious plant” since ancient times. It was said, “In spring, eating it with barley is good for diabetes, in summer, eating it with pork belly is good for liver and hypertension, and in autumn, it’s good for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and thyroid.” First, I lightly blanched some water dropwort (which I bought a few days ago) and made a simple seasoned vegetable dish with “hamcho” salt. The subtle aroma of water parsley combined with the mild flavor of “hamcho” salt makes a delightful side dish. I also drizzled some fragrant sesame oil over it and served it on the table. This precious “hamcho” salt, which money can’t buy! The warmth of the sentiment she sent is so touching. I placed water dropwort seasoned with hamcho salt and sesame oil on top of white rice and mixed it with the leftover sweet potato stem soybean stew. It was as if spring had come to my mouth.
Servings: 2–3
Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 300 g dropwort, cleaned
- 1/2 tsp hamcho salt
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp green onion, minced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat a pot over medium-high heat and add 4 cups of water, bring to a boil. Branch the dropwort for 1–2 minutes.
2. Rinse the cooked dropwort in cold water and strain them with a strainer.
3. Remove the excess water by lightly squeezing with your hands.
4. Place the dropwort in a bowl and add the hamcho salt, garlic, green onion, sesame seeds, and sesame oil to the bowl, then mix them lightly.
5. Serve it as a side dish or over rice.
You can also view this recipe on Instagram.
