Kimchi Tuna Salad
Kimchi and canned tuna make a popular combination in Korean cooking. These two pantry staples are found together in a number of dishes like kimchi jjigae and kimbap, and here they are the basis of a lively, fortifying salad. Combine them with fresh ginger and celery for crunch (or an equal amount of other crunchy vegetables, like thinly sliced sugar snap or snow peas, radishes, carrot, cabbage or fennel). The dressing is made using the spicy liquid from the kimchi jar, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil, but because each jar of kimchi is different, you may want to tweak the seasonings to taste. Eat the salad on its own; with gim, or seaweed, as a hand roll; or with something starchy to balance the punch, like a burger bun, rice, boiled potatoes, soba or ramen noodles.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 1(16-ounce) jar cabbage kimchi, including juice
- 2tablespoons unseasoned rice wine vinegar, plus more to taste (or lemon or lime juice or 1 tablespoon fish sauce)
- 3teaspoons toasted sesame oil, plus more to taste
- 10to 12 ounces canned tuna (preferably oil-packed), drained
- 6celery stalks, thinly sliced crosswise (about 2 cups)
- 1(2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced into less than 1/4-inch-thick matchsticks
- Mayonnaise (optional)
- Red-pepper flakes, gochugaru or sambal oelek (optional)
- 1tablespoon toasted sesame seeds or furikake (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Place a colander in a medium bowl and drain the kimchi. Coarsely chop the kimchi; you should have about 2 cups.Step 2
To the medium bowl with the kimchi juice, add the rice wine vinegar and sesame oil; stir to combine. Stir in the tuna and celery, breaking up the tuna into large chunks.Step 3
Add the chopped kimchi and ginger, and stir to combine. Because each batch of kimchi tastes different, it’s important to taste and adjust seasonings. If it needs more tang, add more rice wine vinegar. If it’s too intense, add more oil or even mayonnaise. If you want it spicier, add red-pepper flakes, gochugaru or sambal.Step 4
Serve with a sprinkle of sesame seeds, if desired. The salad keeps in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.