How to make Korean carrot seasoning with your own hands

Seasoning for Korean carrots is popular, as is the snack itself. You can trust the manufacturer and buy a ready-made set of spices. Some cooks prefer to make their own spice mixture. To get the same Korean-style carrots, you need to use certain spices, selected in the correct ratio.

The most popular spices and seasonings for Korean carrots

The main ingredient of the spicy snack is, of course, carrots. It is grated raw on a special grater with long thin strips. Other required ingredients are vegetable oil, table vinegar, sugar, salt, and a set of spices. It is the spices that give Korean carrots their unique taste. Inexperienced or too busy housewives can buy ready-made Korean Chim Chim sauce. With it, the snack will turn out moderately spicy and tasty, and preparation will take a minimum of time.

Ground black pepper

An affordable spice that is found in every kitchen, it is used to prepare first and second courses, appetizers, and marinades.The spice is the dried berries of the southern plant Piper nigrum. Pepper looks like wrinkled dark peas, which are ground at work or at home in a special spice grinder to obtain powder. The seasoning gives the dish a spicy taste and a peppery aroma, which tasters characterize as warm.

Ground red hot pepper

Red hot pepper powder is obtained by grinding chili peppers. The pods are dried and then crushed. The seeds, ground together with pepper, give the spice a special heat. The seasoning must be handled with care. If you add too much of it, you can burn the mucous membrane of your mouth.

Ground coriander

Coriander can be found on sale in whole and ground form. The spice is cilantro seeds. Coriander cools down spicy dishes. That is why it is combined with red and black pepper, ground ginger, garlic, and onion. In appearance, the ground spice is a brownish powder.

The spice is considered universal; it is added to spicy-aromatic mixtures and used as a single seasoning for dishes made from meat, fish, and vegetables. Coriander is also added to sauces, marinades, and gravies. This spice is used very widely in Korean dishes.

Dried garlic

Dried garlic is available in the form of granules, powder, and flakes. The spice is made from fresh garlic. In dry form, the vegetable has a milder taste and aroma, does not cause a burning sensation in the mouth, and does not irritate the mucous membrane of the throat and esophagus. Dried garlic is added to marinades, sauces, first and second courses, and snacks. The seasoning can also be used for Korean carrots, replacing fresh garlic.

Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate is called Korean salt in the culinary community.This seasoning is almost always included in the ready-made mixture for Korean carrots. Monosodium glutamate is a food additive that enhances the taste of a dish. There is still controversy surrounding the seasoning; some consider it harmful to health. In fact, in small doses, the flavor enhancer does not harm the human body. In appearance, the additive is a white crystalline powder, reminiscent of table salt.

How to prepare a ready-made spice mixture for Korean carrots yourself

To prepare Korean carrots, you need all the spices listed above. They can be bought separately, and then combined and poured into a glass jar, taking the components in equal proportions. To prepare Korean carrot seasoning for one time, you will need:

• mixture of red and black peppers – 1 tsp;
• dried garlic – 1 tsp;
• ground coriander – 1 tsp;
• monosodium glutamate – 1 tsp.

This amount of spices is enough for 1 kg of carrots. If you don’t need so much spicy snack, the amount of all ingredients is reduced by 2 times. Sometimes housewives diversify the recipe by adding paprika, nutmeg, ginger, and cumin to the spicy mixture. The advantage of dry seasoning is its long shelf life and ease of use.

Spices are stored under a tightly closed lid at room temperature without access to light for up to 12 months. The most suitable place for a jar of seasoning is a shelf in a closed kitchen cabinet.

Recipes for Korean carrots with spices

There is nothing complicated about making Korean carrots with your own hands. You just need to follow the recipe exactly, and then let the snack brew in the refrigerator. It is better to use a grater with smaller holes, otherwise the carrots will turn out rough.If you like the crunchy taste, it is recommended to first soak the vegetable in water for about an hour. It is better to add spices to hot oil, then they will better reveal their taste.

Option #1

Ingredients:

• carrots – 500 g;
• onions – 500 g;
• vegetable oil – 1/2 cup;
• vinegar essence 70% – 1 tsp;
• sugar – 1 tbsp. l.;
• spice mixture – 2 tsp;
• salt to taste.

Cooking method:

1. Add salt to the grated carrots and let steep for 30 minutes.
2. Then add sugar, seasoning mixture, mix.
3. Cut the onion into large half rings and fry in vegetable oil until rich golden brown, then remove (only oil is needed).
4. Mix slightly cooled oil with vinegar, add the mixture to the carrots.

Place the snack in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours to infuse.

Option No. 2

List of ingredients:

• medium-sized carrots – 5 pcs.;
• vegetable oil – 0.5 cups;
• sesame seeds – 1 tsp;
• sugar – 1 tsp;
• spice mixture – 2 tsp;
• onion – 1 head;
• salt - to taste.

Preparation step by step:

1. Grate the carrots, add salt, and leave for 20-30 minutes.
2. Squeeze and drain the carrot juice.
3. Heat vegetable oil over fire.
4. Roast sesame seeds.
5. Add a mixture of spices, sesame seeds, and sugar to the bowl with carrots.
6. Place finely chopped onion on top.
7. Pour hot vegetable oil over the vegetables and stir.

Before serving, the appetizer must sit for at least 2 hours. This recipe does not use acetic acid, making carrots suitable for those who avoid adding vinegar to their food.

Option No. 3

List of ingredients:

• carrots – 1 kg;
• vegetable oil – 2/3 cup;
• spice mixture – 4-5 tsp;
• grated ginger root – 1 tsp;
• sugar – 1.5 tbsp. l.;
• salt – 2 tsp;
• juice of half a lemon.

Cooking steps:

1. Grate the washed and peeled carrots.
2. Add salt to the bowl with the vegetable.
3. Wait until the juice comes out and then drain it.
4. Squeeze the carrots with your hands - this will give them softness.
5. Heat oil in a frying pan, add ginger and seasonings to it, turn off the heat.
6. After 2-3 minutes, pour the spiced oil into the bowl with the carrots.
7. At the same time, pour in lemon juice, add sugar, and stir.

Place the bowl in the refrigerator for several hours to allow the Korean carrots to infuse.

Today there are many options for preparing carrots in Korean; housewives adapt the dish to the tastes of family members. However, the traditional recipe is still popular and widely used. By the way, the spice mixture can be used not only for carrot snacks. It is also suitable for pickling other vegetables - cabbage, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus.