Kongnamul Muchim
Seasoned soybean sprouts with sesame and scallion.
Ingredients
- 300 g Bean sprouts
- 2 Scallions
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 tbsp Toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp Sesame seeds
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Gochugaru (optional)
Method
- Blanch the bean sprouts briefly so they stay crunchy, then drain and cool.
- Mince the garlic and slice the scallions.
- Toss the sprouts with garlic, scallion, sesame oil, gochugaru, and sesame seeds.
- Serve at room temperature.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Kongnamul Muchim
Kongnamul muchim is a seasoned Korean soybean-sprout side dish, one of the small banchan plates that fill out nearly every Korean meal. Muchim refers to the technique of dressing and tossing a cooked vegetable with seasonings, and kongnamul are the big-headed soybean sprouts prized for their crunch and mild, nutty flavor. It's an everyday staple — inexpensive, quick, and endlessly present at the table — and it also forms the base of dishes like bibimbap and various soups. This version dresses the sprouts with the classic mix of garlic, scallion, sesame, and a touch of gochugaru.
The key is blanching the sprouts only briefly so they keep their signature snap; overcooking turns them limp and loses the whole appeal. Dressed while just cooled, they take on a nutty, garlicky, faintly spicy flavor from the toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and red-pepper flakes, with sesame seeds adding aroma and scallion a fresh edge. It's light, crunchy, and high in volume for very few calories, which makes it a satisfying nibble as much as a side. Served at room temperature, it holds well in the fridge and rounds out a rice-based meal in about ten minutes of work.
Kongnamul Muchim: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Kongnamul Muchim?
A serving has about 80 calories — 3.3g protein, 6.6g carbs, 5.5g fat, 2.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Kongnamul Muchim gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Kongnamul Muchim has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Kongnamul Muchim take to make?
About 12 minutes start to finish, but only around 6 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Kongnamul Muchim?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out gochugaru — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Kongnamul Muchim make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.