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Korean Dried Radish Strips (Mumallaengi)

by Emily
A closeup shot of a pile dried radish strips on a cream plate.

 This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for details at the bottom of this page. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on this article about dehydrated radish in Korean cuisine. I hope you enjoy learning about mumallaengi, otherwise known as Korean dried radish strips!

Published 1/05/2023 Updated 02/01/2024

What Is Mumallaengi (Korean Dehydrated Radish)?

Have you ever eaten dehydrated radish? In South Korea, people make dried radish strips after ‘Kimjang’ (김장), the process of preparing and preserving kimchi as a family for the year, which takes place during late fall/early winter. Traditionally, families used the majority of radishes they harvested in the fall to make kimchi. Then, if they had leftovers, they would dry and store this delicious root vegetable for later use. Nowadays, people often buy pre-dried radish strips instead of making their own.

In Korea, people refer to this dried root vegetable as ‘mumallaengi’ (무말랭이). ‘Mu’ (무) means radish, while ‘mallaengi’ (말랭이) comes from the verb ‘malida’ (말리다), meaning ‘to dry.’

Dried Radish Strips in Korean Cuisine:

As stated above, in South Korea, people refer to dried radish strips as ‘mumallaengi’ (무말랭이). In Korean cuisine, people use and eat radishes both fresh and dried. To learn more about fresh Korean radish in Korean cuisine, I recommend checking out my ingredient article on the subject!

Below, I list one of the ways people use dried radish strips as an ingredient: 

  • Mumallaengi-Muchim (무말랭이무침): In English, we can translate this to ‘seasoned dried radish strips,’ or ‘spicy dried radish salad.’ To make this traditional Korean banchan, you soak the dried radish strips in water to rehydrate them before mixing them into a delicious sauce!
A closeup side shot of dried radish on a cream tray.

Mumallaengi Frequently Asked Questions:

Now that we learned about mumallaengi in Korean cuisine, I want to answer some questions you may have about this ingredient! If I do not answer your question, feel free to leave a comment in the section below or email me at [email protected]

What Do Dehydrated Radish Strips Taste Like?

Dried Korean radish tastes like a more pungent version of the fresh root vegetable. Like any dehydrated food, when you remove the water content, the flavor becomes stronger. Furthermore, the smell of the radish may also become more pungent once you dry it.

Raw Korean radish tastes peppery with a hint of sweetness! 

Where Can I Buy This Ingredient?

You can buy packages of this dried Korean ingredient at your local Korean or Asian grocery store as well as online!

Where to Buy Korean Ingredients Online? 

Nowadays, there are many online options to choose from to order Korean food online. These websites are not limited to but include:

  • Amazon
  • H-mart
  • Hanpoom
  • Wooltari 

How Do I Properly Store Dried Radish Strips?

I recommend storing Korean dehydrated radish in a cool, dry place such as your pantry unless the packaging states to refrigerate them. Once opened, make sure to place it into a sealed container with the air removed. 

What Is a Korean Dried Radish Substitute?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a great substitute for Korean dehydrated radish. If you cannot find the packets of dried radish, you can try making your own using a Korean or daikon radish. In South Korea, people use both radish varieties to make dried radish strips.  

I Hope You Enjoyed Learning About Korean Dried Radish (Mumallaengi)!

In the end, I hope you enjoyed learning about the uses of mumallaengi (dried radish) in Korean cuisine. If so, let me know in the comment section! 

If you would like to read more about cooking, you can find recipes as well as further Korean ingredient articles on my blog. I listed some of our favorite Carving A Journey recipes below! For reference, many recipes are influenced by my family’s blended Korean and Southern heritage.

Korean Ingredient Articles: 

Further Carving A Journey Recipes:

If you have any questions or comments, you can also email me at [email protected].

And, finally, I would love to hear from you through our social media as well! You can follow me at @carvingajourney on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I also started a vlog Youtube channel with my husband! Or, if you would like more articles like these, you can subscribe to the blog by joining the mailing list. Let me know if you try using dried or fresh radish while cooking! Thank you so much for stopping by!

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