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Yoon Ju-mo Radish Salad & Seasoned Grilled Pork Neck

A special recipe from Fun-staurant's Yoon Na-ra! Enjoy the perfect pairing of crunchy, sweet, and sour radish salad with tender, savory-sweet seasoned grilled pork neck at home.

Hello! Today we introduce the signature culinary combination from KBS2 Fun-staurant's Chef Yoon Na-ra (Yoon Ju-mo): 'Radish Salad & Seasoned Grilled Pork Neck'. The super crunchy, spicy, and tangy radish salad perfectly cuts through the richness of the sweet and savory grilled pork. Radish salad is a classic Korean side dish, but it often releases too much liquid and loses its texture over time. Yoon Ju-mo's technique uses both salt and sugar for early pickling, followed by thorough moisture removal to ensure an exceptionally crisp, long-lasting bite. Combined with anchovy fish sauce and plum syrup, the salad delivers incredible depth of umami and refreshment. Paired with tender pork neck marinated in a savory-sweet soy glaze, this dish transforms your dinner table into an authentic Korean tavern experience. The rich meat and refreshing side dish balance each other impeccably, making it ideal for family meals or beverage pairings.
⏱️ 35m total (Prep 20m / Cook 15m) 📊 Difficulty: Medium 🌶️ Spice: 🌶️ 👥 Yield: 2-3 servings
Finished dish of Yoon Ju-mo Radish Salad and Seasoned Grilled Pork Neck

Servings Ingredient Calculator

Default: 2-3 servings (Adjusts quantities automatically)

2 Servings

🥬 Main Ingredients

  • Pork neck600g
  • Korean radish500g
  • Green onions3 stalks

🥣 Sauce & Seasoning

  • Soy sauce (for pork)4T
  • Sugar (for pork)2T
  • Mirin (for pork)2T
  • Oligosaccharide (for pork)1T
  • Minced garlic (for pork)1T
  • Sesame oil (for pork)1T
  • Black pepper (for pork)A pinch
  • Gochugaru (for radish)3T
  • Anchovy fish sauce (for radish)1.5T
  • Vinegar (for radish)2T
  • Plum syrup (for radish)1T
  • Minced garlic (for radish)1T

🌿 Toppings & Garnish

  • Toasted sesame seeds1T

🔄 Ingredient Substitutes & Tips

Original Ingredient Recommended Substitute Characteristics & Tips
Anchovy fish sauce Sand lance sauce or Fish sauce Use at a 1:1 ratio. Similar umami level, but standard fish sauce yields a cleaner, less sharp aroma.
Plum syrup 0.5T Sugar + a splash of Vinegar Substitute 1T plum syrup with 0.5T sugar and vinegar to mimic the fruity, tart sweetness.
Mirin Cooking sake or White wine Use at a 1:1 ratio. Same tenderizing effect, but add a pinch of sugar to compensate for sweetness.
Oligosaccharide Corn syrup or Honey Use at a 1:1 ratio. Corn syrup offers similar viscosity and shine, while honey adds a rich floral flavor.

📊 Estimated Nutrition (Per Serving)

Calories
520 kcal
Sodium
1150mg
Fat
22g
Protein
38g

👨‍🍳 Cooking Steps

1

Thinly slice the radish into 0.3cm strips. Toss with 1T of salt and 1T of sugar, then let it pickle for 15 minutes.

💡 Tip: Do not slice the radish too thin to retain its crunchy texture.
2

Squeeze the pickled radish tightly with your hands or a cheesecloth to thoroughly remove excess moisture.

💡 Tip: Removing as much moisture as possible prevents the seasoning from getting watery.
3

Mix the squeezed radish with 3T gochugaru, 1.5T fish sauce, 2T vinegar, 1T plum syrup, 1T minced garlic, sliced green onions, and finish with sesame seeds.

💡 Tip: Tossing the radish with red pepper flakes first yields a more vibrant red color.
4

Combine 4T soy sauce, 2T sugar, 2T mirin, 1T oligosaccharide, 1T minced garlic, 1T sesame oil, and black pepper. Marinate the pork neck for 10 minutes.

💡 Tip: Using scored pork neck helps the marinade penetrate faster.
5

Place the marinated pork neck in a heated pan and cook over medium-low heat until golden brown on both sides and the marinade caramelizes.

💡 Tip: Marinated meat burns easily; flip frequently and control the heat carefully.
6

Cut the grilled pork neck into bite-sized pieces, plate nicely, and serve alongside the fresh radish salad.

💡 Tip: Eating a slice of pork wrapped with the radish salad offers the best flavor combination.

🌟 Pro Chef Tips

  • Squeezing out moisture is crucial for the radish salad to stay crunchy and prevent diluting the flavors over time.
  • Briefly raising the heat at the very end of cooking the pork adds a pleasant, smoky charred flavor.
  • Pickling radish with both salt and sugar enhances flavor balance without making it overly salty.

⚠️ Avoid Common Pitfalls

  • If the radish is not squeezed thoroughly, the juices will dilute the dressing, making it soggy.
  • Cooking over high heat will burn the sweet soy glaze before the pork is fully cooked inside.
  • If the pork cuts are too thick, the marinade will not penetrate properly. Keep them around 0.8 to 1 cm thick.

🧂 Spice & Seasoning Adjustments

  • If you prefer less spiciness in the radish salad, reduce red pepper flakes to 2T or use a milder blend.
  • For a natural sweetness in the pork glaze, reduce sugar by half and add 2T of fresh apple or pear juice.

🧊 Storage & Reheating

  • Radish Salad: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
  • Marinated Pork: Refrigerate and cook within 2 days for optimal taste, or freeze if storing longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I make the radish salad in advance?

A. Yes, letting it mature in the fridge for a day deepens the flavor. Just give it a light toss before serving as some moisture may pool.

Q. Will the pork get too salty if marinated for too long?

A. If marinating for more than half a day, it can become salty. Reduce the amount of soy sauce slightly if planning to marinate overnight.

Q. Can I use another pork cut instead of pork neck?

A. Pork belly or boneless pork rib cuts work great too. If using leaner cuts, add a splash of sesame oil while cooking to stay juicy.

Q. Why do you use both salt and sugar to pickle the radish?

A. Using salt alone makes radish overly salty and hard. Adding sugar draws out water efficiently while leaving a mild sweetness and tender crunch.

Q. Any tips to prevent the marinated pork from burning in the pan?

A. Add 2-3 tbsp of water to the pan first. As it evaporates over medium-low heat, the meat cooks thoroughly without burning the glaze.

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