Korean radish and canned chopped clam makes a quick and delicious Korean side dish. Korean perilla oil brings a fragrant aroma to the sweet and mellow taste of Korean radish, and it becomes truly pleasant dish to serve with rice.

A side dish made with Korean radish and canned clam is served with chopsticks on a pink table mat.

Koreans love eating radishes. We often turn this nutrition packed root vegetable into salad and kimchi. We throw some in the soups and stews, too. We even dry the radish and make something delicious with it.

Today I am going to share a very simple side dish called “Moo Namool, 무나물”, but with a twist. Traditionally Moo Namool has only one main ingredient; the radish of course. But I am going to add canned clams to make the dish more exciting.

This Radish with Clams will make great side dish (banchan, 반찬) to any Korean meal. However it also makes a light meal on its own to serve as a rice bowl.

Korean-Radish-with-Clams

Korean Radish

Radishes are low in calorie and high in nutrition such as folic acid, vitamin C and B-complex. It also has a great detoxifying ability that helps eliminate toxins and cancer causing free radicals in our body. It is good for your skin and relieves congestion within your respiratory system, too. The health benefits of this earthly friend can go on and on.

No wonder why my mother always have told me that eating plenty of radish is better than taking any vitamin supplement.

So here is a very simple recipe that you can consume a large amount of this power food in one sitting. If you can’t find the Korean radish, you can certainly use daikon with a pinch of sugar instead

Korean radish, perilla oil and canned clam are presented to make Korean side dish.

Only 4 ingredients plus 2 extra, the salt and toasted sesame seeds, in the recipe! Here are Radish, garlic, wild sesame oil and canned clams.

Korean perilla oil

Let me introduce you a new fragrant oil called “Dulgirum, 들기름”.  It translates as wild sesame oil on the bottle but it actually is not from the sesame seeds. Dulgirum is coming from the seeds called “Dulkkae”, the seeds of the famous Korean herb called Kketnip (the perilla leaves).

The oil itself is somewhat similar to the sesame oil that we all know, but the Dulgirum is a lot milder in fragrance and flavor, so it doesn’t overpower the dish like sesame oil often do. Basically sesame oil (chamgirum) and this wild sesame oil (Dulgirum) are not the same kind. However, if you can’t find this wild sesame oil, you can substitute with sesame oil but with a little less amount.

Koreans believe that Dulgirum is healthier than sesame oil. We often say, enjoy the sesame oil for the fragrance and taste, but enjoy Dulgirum for the health.

Dulgirum is an excellent source of omega 6 fat.  One drawback of this healthy oil is, it tends to go rancid faster than sesame oil so if you are going to purchase a bottle, I recommend to get a smaller in size, keep in the dry, dark place and use within a month or so. Otherwise store in the fridge for a longer shelf-life.

How to make Korean radish side dish with clam

The juice in the canned clam is poured on a glass measuring cup.

Drain the juice out of the canned clams and reserve the juice. It will be about 1/2 cup.

Korean radish is sliced into matchsticks.

Peel the radish and slice into 1/4″ matchsticks.

Perilla oil is heating in a skillet.

Heat 2 teaspoon of Dulgirum in a skillet over LOW heat. As with sesame oil, Dulgirum shouldn’t be cooked in high heat.

A wooden spatula is tossing radish slices in oil in a skillet.

Add your radish slices and minced garlic. Toss them to coat with oil. Cook over low heat for 3 minutes.

The reserved clam juice is added to the radish.

Pour the reserved clam juice and stir well. Cover with a lid and cook for 5-6 minutes over low heat.

Korean radish is simmering in clam juice in a skillet.

Your radish should be somewhat soft and released its moisture. Continue to cook a little more without the lid over med-low heat until they are soft with a little body. Do not over cook. They will break easily.

Korean radish is softened in a simmering clam juice in a skillet.

Now they look done and ready. I prefer my radish not too soft. I like a little body for my teeth to chew on, but you can cook longer if you want yours very soft.

Canned clam meat, green onion, and sesame seeds are added to radish in a skillet.

Add the reserved clams and some chopped green onion. Toss and your radish is ready to serve.

Korean radishes are so mellow they are almost sweet once cooked. And this radish with clams went into my stomach soon after I finished taking pictures – the best moment to the recipe bloggers.

I served with rice and that was all I needed for my lunch. And I felt good and lived happily ever after.

The end!

Korean radish with clam side dish on a green plate with chopsticks is placed on a wooden tray with pink linen.
Korean radish with clam side dish is on e green plate with chopticks

Korean Radish with Clams

Korean radish and canned chopped clam makes a quick and delicious Korean side dish. Korean perilla oil brings a fragrant aroma to the sweet and mellow taste of Korean radish.
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Ingredients

  • 3/4 lb Korean radish, sliced into 1/4″ matchsticks (or use daikon with a pinch of sugar)
  • 1 canned, 6.5oz, 184g chopped clams, drained but reserving its juice
  • 2 teaspoon perilla oil, or sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt to season
  • 2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 green onion, finely chopped

Instructions 

  • Heat perilla oil in a skillet over low heat until slightly hot. Add the radish slices and garlic, and toss to coat with oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Pour in the reserved clam juice to the skillet, stir well. Cover with a lid and cook for 5-6 minutes. The radishes will become somewhat soft. Raise the heat to med-low heat and continue to cook, uncovered, until the softness you desire. Season with salt.
  • Add the clam pieces and toss well to heat through. Add the sesame seeds and green onion, toss well. Serve warm or at a room temperature.
Calories: 42kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 19mg, Potassium: 212mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 30IU, Vitamin C: 20mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 1mg
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