5 minute Korean Bean Sprouts Side Dish

5 minute Korean Bean Sprouts Side Dish

Once your pot of water comes up to a boil, this Korean bean sprout side dish can be made within minutes. Taste the crunchy texture of bean sprouts mixed with sesame oil just like you're in a Korean restaurant.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Korean

Diet Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time 9

Cook Time 1

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 55kcal

Author Agile Test Kitchen

Equipment

1 Pot to boil water at least 3 quarts in size

Ingredients

9 oz bean sprouts about 4 heaping cups

Dressing

1 Tb sesame oil
¼ tsp table salt for lightly seasoned ½ teaspoon for saltier taste
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Optional Additions

1 teaspoon Korean red chili flakes
2 Tb sliced green onions
¼ teaspoon minced raw garlic

Instructions

Bring at least 6 cups of water to a boil in a pot large enough to hold the water and bean sprouts (at least 3 qt).
While you're waiting for the water to boil, pick through the bean sprouts and remove any browned, deteriorated tips.
Add all the bean sprouts to the pot of boiling water. Stir and let them sit uncovered for about 30 seconds to a minute.
The water will likely not come back to a boil, and that's ok. The bean sprouts cook very quickly. You want them to soften but still have some shape and crunch.
Strain the bean sprouts into a colander in the sink. Run cold water over the sprouts to stop cooking for about 30 seconds.
Shake the colander a bit to drain out any excess water.
Transfer drained sprouts to a bowl. Toss with sesame oil, salt, and sesame seeds.
Stir in any or all of the optional additions: green onion, Korean red chili flakes, and/or garlic.
Taste, and add more salt as needed. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 days for best flavor.

Notes

This recipe makes about 1 ½ c of food. This can make 2 large portions as a side dish or 4 as a spread with other appetizers.

Once you buy a bag of mung bean sprouts, use it within a few days. It will start to deteriorate quickly due to its high water content.
Stir fry method - Instead of boiling the sprouts, you can lightly stir fry the bean sprouts with all the ingredients over a medium heat pan on the stove. Cook until the sprouts are wilted but still crunchy. This will take about 2-4 minutes.
If you can find soybean sprouts, this recipe also works great with those.

Nutrition