Kongnamul Muchim
Seasoned soybean sprouts with sesame and scallion.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 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.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
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?
One serving of Kongnamul Muchim has about 82 calories, with 3g of protein, 7g of carbs, 6g of fat and 2g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact 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.