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1
Prepare the sauce: Add enough cold water to the mustard powder to make a thin paste; let stand 10 minutes.
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2
In a food processor combine mustard paste, sesame paste, sesame oil, vinegar, soya sauce, garlic, sugar, fish sauce (if using), pepper and salt; puree until smooth.
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3
Add enough cold water to make a thick but pourable sauce.
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4
(The sauce can be refrigerated for 5 days; bring to room temperature before using).
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5
Bring 3 cups (750 ml) water and salt to a boil.
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6
Blanch celery 30 seconds; remove, rinse in cold water, cut diagonally into bite-size pieces and set aside.
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7
Add peppercorns, ginger, whole green onion and coriander, if using, to the boiling water.
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8
Add chicken breast, skin-side up; when water returns to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through but still moist.
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9
Remove from water; cool.
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10
Strain liquid and save for use as a light stock.
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11
Remove and discard skin and bones; shred chicken meat or slice thinly.
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12
Line serving platter with Napa cabbage leaves; cover with radish and cucumber, then celery and chicken.
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13
Drizzle sauce in lines over the salad.
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14
Sprinkle with chili, red pepper, coriander and, if desired, sesame seeds.
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15
Variations:
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16
Some northern Chinese and, especially, Koreans prefer a sauce with a pronounced mustard taste and sinus-clearing piquancy.
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17
For this, make sure you use hot English mustard powder.
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18
Or, for the best and hottest mustard powder, buy the Korean product at Korean grocers.
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19
Avoid Chinese mustard powder, as it is inferior to the English variety.
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20
Increase the mustard to 1 tbsp (15 ml).
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21
Wasabi, Japanese green horseradish, can also replace the hot mustard.
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22
Use 2 tsp (10 ml) powdered wasabi and add enough cold water to make a thick paste; let it sit covered 10 minutes before adding to the sauce.
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23
If you ever see fresh radish sprouts at your grocers, buy them for this salad.
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24
The attractive sprouts are absolutely delicious and have the tangy flavor of radish.
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25
Onion sprouts can replace the green onion in the salad.
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26
Chopped pickled young ginger also makes for a very nice garnish.