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The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad

The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad

Escape your cubicle routine with a vibrant fusion of Korean gochujang heat and sweet Caribbean flair! Bright, snappy edamame and charred sweet corn pair up with quick-pickled summer cherries in a zip-tight mason jar dressing that wakes up your entire afternoon.

Chef Mira Lin
Chef Mira Lin
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
2
easy
lunchsalad
edamamequick-picklingdesk-lunchvegan+1

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Timeline

13 minutes
0m5m10m13m
Pickle Cherries
Shake Mason Jar Dressing
Char Corn & Edamame
Prep Herbs & Cucumber
Toss & Serve Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 cups shelled edamame (thawed if frozen)(flash-blanched or thawed)
  • 1 cup fresh sweet dark cherries(pitted and halved)
  • 1 cup fresh sweet corn kernels(raw or stripped fresh off the cob)
  • 1 cup English cucumber(thinly sliced into half-moons)
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro(coarsely chopped)
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves(coarsely chopped)
  • 3 tbsp lime juice(divided; freshly squeezed)
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp honey(divided)
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt(divided)
  • 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds(mixture of black and white)

Instructions

  1. 1

    At departure gate 1 (your trusty cutting board!), stir together 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1/2 tbsp honey, and 1/2 tsp fine sea salt in a small bowl until dissolved. Submerge 1 cup fresh sweet dark cherries in the mixture and let them quick-pickle while you assemble the rest of the bowl.

    5 min

    Tip: Quick-pickling fruit cuts through rich gochujang heat and delivers a burst of juicy acid in every bite!

  2. 2

    In a 16-ounce mason jar, combine 1 tbsp gochujang, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce, remaining 2 tbsp lime juice, remaining 1 tbsp honey, and remaining 1/2 tsp fine sea salt. Seal with the lid and shake vigorously until silky and combined.

    3 min

    Tip: Give it a solid 15-second shake! Mason jar dressings are your express ticket to silky emulsified magic with zero whisk-washing required.

  3. 3

    Heat a non-stick skillet over high heat. Add 1 cup fresh sweet corn kernels and 2 cups shelled edamame to the dry pan. Dry-sear for 4 to 5 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the corn gets lovely blistered charred spots and the edamame is hot and snappy.

    5 min

    Tip: A dry skillet gives you that smoky street-corn flavor in minutes without needing extra oil.

  4. 4

    While the pan chars, chop 1/2 cup fresh cilantro and 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, and slice 1 cup English cucumber into crisp half-moons.

    4 min

    Tip: Don't skimp on the fresh herbs! They act like whole salad greens here, bringing tons of freshness.

  5. 5

    Transfer the warm charred corn and edamame to a large serving bowl. Add the sliced cucumber, chopped cilantro, and fresh mint. Strain 1 cup fresh sweet dark cherries from their quick-pickle liquid and add them in. Drizzle over the mason jar dressing, toss well to coat, and sprinkle with 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds before serving.

    3 min

    Tip: Keep a splash of that pink cherry pickling brine handy—if you like an extra tart pop, splash a teaspoon over the final bowl!

Chef's Notes

This vibrant desk escape keeps beautifully in a sealed container for up to 3 days! Keep the dressing in its trusty mason jar until ready to serve, or pack it already tossed—the sturdy edamame and quick-pickled cherries actually get punchier as they marinate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad take to make?

The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad takes about 15 minutes total. That includes 10 minutes of prep and 5 minutes of cooking.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 2 servings.

What skill level is needed for The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad?

The main ingredients are: shelled edamame (thawed if frozen), fresh sweet dark cherries, fresh sweet corn kernels, English cucumber, fresh cilantro, fresh mint leaves, lime juice, rice vinegar, honey, fine sea salt, gochujang (Korean chili paste), toasted sesame oil, tamari or soy sauce, toasted sesame seeds.

What type of meal is The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad?

The Seoul-to-San Juan Gochujang Corn & Quick-Pickled Cherry Edamame Salad is categorized as: lunch, salad.