Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
This Korean cucumber salad is spicy, slightly sweet, and tangy! It's a great side dish to any main course- especially soy braised meats.
Servings: 1 lb
Ingredients
- 1 lb Persian cucumbers (about 5 or 6)
- 2 tsp coarse salt
Spicy Seasoning Sauce
- 2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp plum vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
Optional
- 2 oz carrot
- 1/4 onion
- 1 serrano pepper finely minced or sliced
Instructions
- Rinse and cut the cucumbers (and carrots/onion/serrano if using). The shape and thickness do not matter that much- it depends on your preference.
- Add salt and toss to coat evenly. Let it sit for 10 minutes if you sliced the cucumbers thinly, or 15 minutes if you sliced them thick. *If using table salt, reduce to 1 tsp.
- After 10-15 minutes, there will be a pool of water drawn out from the cucumbers. Pour it out and remove as much water as possible by gently squeezing it out.
- Add the seasoning sauce ingredients. *You can reduce the amount of sugar in this recipe if you prefer, but I highly recommend keeping the original amount to make this extra delicious.
- Mix until evenly coated and serve immediately or keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container and consume within 3 days for the best taste and texture.
- Avoid storing for longer than 1 week. Oi muchim can last in the fridge for up to a week, but after day 3 it starts to lose some of it's crunch and freshness.
- Separate the seasoning sauce. If you're planning to make enough to keep in the fridge for 1 week, consider storing the cucumbers and sauce separately to prevent the cucumbers from losing it's crunch.
- Use Fresh, Crunchy Cucumbers. For the best texture, choose fresh, firm cucumbers. Persian or Korean cucumbers are ideal due to their thin skin and small seeds.
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- Feel free to personalize your oi muchim with additional ingredients like sliced carrots, onions, or cilantro for extra flavor and texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 11175mg | Potassium: 1369mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 14750IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 204mg | Iron: 5mg
