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–+ servings
Korean cucumber salad recipe served with bulgogi and rice

Simple Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)

Sophie Delgado
A refreshing Korean cucumber side dish that brings crisp, clean flavors to any meal. The gentle seasoning lets the cucumber's natural freshness take center stage.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Korean
Servings 2 -4 servings
Calories 60 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cucumber Japanese, English, Persian, Pickling are all good – about 1 ½ cup sliced for 1 cucumber
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce Jin Ganjang
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon Korean red chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 2 green onions chopped

Instructions
 

  • Slice your cucumber into delicate, thin rounds—aim for about ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick. The thinner, the better for soaking up all those flavors.
  • Whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar in a small bowl until the sugar completely dissolves. Pour this dressing over your cucumber slices.
  • Sprinkle in the Korean chili powder and sesame seeds. Gently toss everything together, then take a taste. Want more heat? Add another pinch of chili powder. This step-by-step approach lets you control the spice level perfectly.
  • Fold in your chopped green onions and give everything one final, gentle mix.
  • YOU'RE DONE! Serve it right away if you love that super-fresh crunch, or let it rest for 10-15 minutes so the cucumbers can really absorb all those delicious flavors. Both ways are absolutely perfect.

Notes

  • You can refrigerate this Korean cucumber salad recipe for a few days and serve it cold. Just freshen it up with some fresh green onions and sesame seeds.
  • My Korean cucumber salad recipe is more like a light salad than the common, heavier seasoned, more spicy, and garlicky versions that you see in most online Korean cucumber salad recipes.
  • The heavier seasoned Korean cucumber salad recipe stands up well to heavier Korean BBQs whereas mine is more appropriate for lighter meals as sides to fried rice, fish, noodles, etc.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 60kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gSodium: 468mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9g
Keyword Honey, Japanese, Korean red, Korean red pepper, Rice vinegar, Sesame oil, Sesame seeds, Soy sauce, Toasted sesame, Toasted sesame oil
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