Korean pickled radish (chicken-mu) is an incredibly popular Korean side dish or banchan that is served up in almost all Korean restaurants worldwide. Learn how to make this at home so you can have it anytime!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Side Dish
- What Is Korean Pickled Radish?
- Why Is It Called Chicken-Mu?
- What Is the Best Radish to Use?
- Recipe Overview
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Variations and Substitutions
- Great Mains for This Side Dish
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Korean Side Dishes Recipes (Banchan 반찬)
- Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Side Dish
Making a good vegetable pickle of any sort is quite a rewarding process. This Korean pickled radish side dish is no different. What could be easier than shoving some vegetables into a jar and adding pickling juice? The results are always so delicious!
Korean white radishes are such a great vegetable to pickle, and it just adds a crunchy side dish which helps to cut through fatty, heavy and mainly meat dishes. It acts as a reset for the palate.
It’s also a great Korean side dish because you can prepare a few days in advance as they last such a long time!
What Is Korean Pickled Radish?
Apart from kimchi, Korean pickled radish is probably the second most consistent Korean side dish to be served. I guess part of the reason is that they are easy to make, budget friendly, and last a long time.
There are many different pickled and non-pickled Korean radish side dishes, but this by far has to be the easiest and cleanest. Korean radishes are cut up into small cubes and added to a brine. It tastes sweet, sour and slightly salty, all at the same time.
Pickled radish can be used in so many different ways such as in our Kingfish Sashimi Salad with Pickled Radish.
Why Is It Called Chicken-Mu?
This Korean pickled radish side dish is also affectionately known as chicken-mu.
“Mu” is the Korean word for Korean radishes, while “chicken” is, well, chicken!
It is a little bit of a nickname of sorts as chicken-mu is always served with Korean fried chicken. This is always done so to help cut through the heavy flavours and texture of deep-fried chicken. For Korean food lovers, it’s a way to give your palate a break from the oiliness or the fattiness; chicken-mu offers cleansing flavours.
What Is the Best Radish to Use?
Due to its size, the best radish to use is the Korean radish or the Joseon radish, by its proper name. If you can get to a Korean supermarket, you’ll be able to find them.
Unfortunately, not all generic Asian grocers stock them. So instead, you can use the regular white radish. However, they are quite big, so just get one that would equate in size to 2 small Korean radishes.
The standard red radish has also been used on occasion with this recipe. However, red radishes are much more peppery and borderline bitter. The brine will tame this down, but it would still be much stronger than the regular Korean radish. On the bright side, it would look gorgeous!
Recipe Overview
Flavour/Texture: Crunchy. The pickling process certainly hasn’t reduced the crunchiness of the Korean radishes. In terms of flavour, it has classic pickling flavours of being tart from the acidity and sweet at the same time. The peppery notes normally associated with radishes is somewhat diminished, although it still has that raw radish flavour.
Ease: So simple! All you’re doing is immersing cubed Korean radishes into a jar of pickling ingredients. Kind of a set and forget type of recipe.
Time: While the process is beyond easy, we do need a little patience. My recommendation is at least overnight for the pickling to be at its prime. Just leave it in the fridge until the next day.
The upside is you can make this recipe days in advance before you need it. Great way to manage your time!
Ingredients
Ingredients you will need to make Korean Pickled Radish – Chicken-mu.
Korean radish: Korean radishes are short and stout (sounds like the teapot! LOL) compared to their usual white radish counterpart. They also have green tops but are stumpier in shape. You will be able to find these in your Korean supermarket.
If you can’t find these, just use the ordinary white radishes although sometimes I find them so big! So just find one that would be equal in size to 2 Korean radishes.
Alternatively, you can also make an extra batch of Korean pickled radish or use the other half to make Korean spicy radish salad (musaengchae). Our recipe is simply delicious!
Water: The base of all pickling juices.
Rice wine vinegar: Can’t make a pickle with vinegar. The vinegar increases the radishes’ acidity, kills off any microorganisms, and reduces the chances of spoilage in the short term. This will enable you to keep the pickled radishes for longer.
In most cases, it’s equal part water to equal part vinegar, but not wanting to create radishes that were too acidic, less vinegar is used for this recipe. Feel free to increase the vinegar if you wish.
Sugar: To sweeten the already extremely tart combination.
Salt: Salt and water allow the fermentation process to occur and create good bacteria.
Instructions
Step by step instructions for how to make Korean Pickled Radish – Chicken-mu.
Peel the Korean radishes and cut into small cubes.
Place Korean radish cubes into a jar and add water, rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt. Place the lid on and give it a good shake.
Let it marinate overnight.
Serve without the pickling liquid. If you like your pickled radish to be served at room temperature, take it out before serving and let it warm up.
Variations and Substitutions
Korean radish substitute: If you can’t find Korean radish, you can use regular white radish. They tend to be much bigger, so 1 will suffice for this recipe.
Rice wine vinegar substitute: You can use apple cider vinegar instead of rice wine vinegar.
Extra tart: If you like your pickling juice to be extra tart, add another ½ cup to measure up with the same amount of water.
Spicy: There are a few ways you can make this recipe spicy. You can add freshly cut jalapeños, mix gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) or even Sriracha sauce to the brine. This will definitely give it a bit of a kick!
Great Mains for This Side Dish
How to serve Korean Pickled Radish – Chicken-mu.
Spicy pork bulgogi: This recipe made with thin slices of pork belly and a sweet gochujang sauce that is served with a side of rice and a selection of delicious Korean side dishes. It is sweet, spicy and so flavoursome.
Korean fried chicken: This Korean fried chicken is chicken thighs in a crispy coating that are tossed in a sweet, spicy and savoury sauce. Finger licking good, serve it up with some Korean side dishes to balance out the flavours.
Japchae: Traditional japchae is a stir-fried sweet potato noodle dish with beef and shredded vegetables. It is sweet, flavoursome and the noodles have a chewy texture. Also considered a side dish, serve it with a variety of other Korean side dishes and serve with rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Korean pickled radish or chicken-mu can last up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. This is perfect when you’re meal planning and can at least get one component out of the way early.
Not all radishes are created equal, with some more peppery and a little bit bitter. The red radishes, by far, would be top of the food chain in terms of how intense the flavours are. You can, of course, use red radishes to make chicken-mu, but it will be stronger in taste.
Daikon is the Japanese word for white radish. Typical white radish is usually much bigger and longer, whereas Korean radish is shorter and stumpier.
They are, however, quite the same otherwise. You might have even heard people referring to it as Korean daikon or daikon radish (this is silly as you’re basically saying radish radish!).
If you’ve never tried pickling vegetables before, this is the perfect recipe for beginners. Once you’ve made this Korean pickled radish side dish once, you’ll be able to start experimenting with other vegetables and flavouring agents. Time to give chicken-mu a red hot go!
That’s all!
More Korean Side Dishes Recipes (Banchan 반찬)
Here are more Korean side dishes you can make at in the comfort of your own kitchen:
- Korean Spinach Side Dish – Sigeumchi Namul (시금치나물)
- Korean Soybean Sprout Side Dish – Kongnamul Muchim (콩나물 무침)
- Korean Braised Potatoes – Gamja Jorim (감자조림)
- Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim (오이무침)
- Korean Zucchini Side Dish – Hobak Bokkeum (호박 볶음)
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Recipe
Korean Pickled Radish – Chicken-mu (치킨무)
Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.
Instructions
- Peel the Korean radishes and cut into small cubes.
- Place Korean radish cubes into a jar and add water, rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt. Place the lid on and give it a good shake.
- Let it marinate overnight.
- Serve without the pickling liquid.
Notes
- If you can’t find Korean radish, you can use regular white radish. They tend to be much bigger, so 1 will suffice for this recipe.
- You can use apple cider vinegar instead of rice wine vinegar.
- If you like your pickling juice to be extra tart, add another ½ cup to measure up with the same amount of water.
- There are a few ways you can make this recipe spicy. You can add freshly cut jalapeños, mix gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) or even Sriracha sauce to the brine. This will definitely give it a bit of a kick!
Nutrition
*Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.
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Melinda
Until now I had no idea how easy it was to make a pickled radish from scratch!! There are so many ways my family will enjoy this wonderful and crunchy treat!! Thank you for sharing.
The Devil Wears Salad
You welcome! Love easy Korean side dishes!
Genevieve
I’ve always wanted to try to make my own pickled radish. The recipe video is super informative and I love how you show how easy it is to pickle radish. I could see this on so many dishes too!
The Devil Wears Salad
That’s exactly right! You can have these Korean pickled radishes with many dishes. Glad you found the video useful:)
Oscar
I’ve always enjoyed pickled radishes when I went to a korean restaurant and now I know how to make it. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you.
The Devil Wears Salad
Really easy to make at home! Enjoy these pickled radishes!
Rob
I’m always looking for easy, healthy side dishes, and this one hit all those marks. More importantly, these pickled radishes are delicious!
The Devil Wears Salad
Oh thank you! They are delicious and glad you think so too!
Alexandra
This pickled radish has a great crunch and delicious flavour. It is perfect served alongside Korean Fried Chicken – one of my favourite combinations there is! So great to have this pickle on hand.
The Devil Wears Salad
Yup it sure is! And they keep well too so you can make a big batch of Korean pickled radish and have it anytime.