If you’re looking for a easy and healthy Korean spicy salad recipe, you’re in for a treat! This refreshing and light dish is perfect for summer and pairs wonderfully with steamed rice. Made with fresh ingredients and a touch of spice, it’s a healthy and delicious addition to any meal. If you love spicy food, this salad is sure to become one of your go-to favorites!
Quick and Easy Korean Spicy Salad for Busy Days
This vibrant and healthy Korean spicy salad recipe is as simple as it is delicious! It’s a colorful mix of purple cabbage, crunchy cucumbers, shredded carrots, sweet bell peppers, chopped green onions, and fresh romaine lettuce, all brought to life with a spicy kick from Korean red pepper flakes. A drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds add a rich, nutty flavor, while a light dressing of rice vinegar and salt ties everything together.
This salad isn’t just packed with flavor—it’s also quick and easy to make. With just a handful of fresh ingredients and a simple dressing, you can create a dish that’s refreshing, satisfying, and perfect for busy days when you want something healthy in minutes.
This recipe was born during a busy chapter of my life, raising two daughters as a single mom while running four stores. I didn’t have the time to prepare traditional Korean meals with multiple side dishes, so I focused on creating simple and nutritious options like this healthy spicy salad. It became one of my go-to meals—quick, tasty, and perfect for a light yet satisfying dish!
Healthy Spicy Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded purple cabbage
- 1-2 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 red or yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1-2 Tbs Korean red pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 Tsp salt
Instructions:
To start preparing your healthy spicy salad, combine the shredded purple cabbage, sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, sliced red bell pepper, chopped green onions, and chopped romaine lettuce in a large mixing bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, rice vinegar, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Add the Korean red pepper flakes and sesame seeds.
Gently toss the salad until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing, allowing the flavors to blend beautifully.
Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning if needed. Add more salt for extra flavor or additional red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.
Serve the spicy salad immediately as a refreshing side dish or a light main course, depending on your preference.
Enjoy the flavors, refreshing crunch, and nutritious goodness of this easy and healthy Korean spicy salad in every delicious bite!
Serving Suggestions and Storing Leftovers
This healthy spicy salad is a great side dish that pairs perfectly with steamed rice. The spiciness of the salad complements the warm, mild flavor of the rice, creating a delicious balance. For an extra treat, add roasted seaweed on the side. The seaweed’s savory taste goes so well with the salad and rice that it has become one of my favorite ways to enjoy this dish!
It’s best to eat this salad fresh to fully enjoy the crisp texture of the vegetables and the vibrant flavors of the dressing. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. While the salad will still be good the next day, it might lose some of its crunch due to the dressing. For the best experience, try to finish it within a day.
If you think you’ll have leftovers, consider storing the dressing separately and tossing it with the vegetables just before serving. This helps maintain the salad’s freshness and crunch, so you can enjoy it as close to the original as possible!
Healthy Customizable Korean Spicy Salad Recipe
This recipe is easy to customize, so feel free to use your favorite fresh vegetables and adjust the amounts to match your taste. Love cucumbers? Add more! Prefer a stronger or milder flavor? Simply tweak the amount of sesame oil or rice vinegar.
You can also get creative by adding ingredients you enjoy to make this healthy spicy salad truly your own. It’s a healthy, flexible dish that you can adapt to suit your preferences while still being quick and simple to make. Enjoy experimenting and making it your perfect go-to salad!
Be sure to check out another easy and delicious Korean rice salad recipe called Bibimbap! It’s a simple dish that comes together quickly and is perfect for any meal.
