Korean Cucumber Salad is crunchy spicy Korean salad with cucumber tossed in spicy Gochugaru Chilli dressing. It is simple, easy and quick and so delicious.
Also, known as Oi Muchim in Korean Cuisine ,it is basically a summer salad but you can make it and enjoy at anytime of the year whenever fresh juicy cucumbers are available.
Make this trending Korean Cucumber salad for your meals and also serve at your parties and get togethers. You and everyone you serve are going to love it.
- About the recipe
- Why you should try this Korean Cucumber Salad recipe
- Ingredients for Gochugaru Cucumber Salad Recipe
- How to make Korean Cucumber Salad
- Pro tips to make perfect crispy Cucumber Salad with Gochujang chilli
- Can I make ahead this Korean Salad with Cucumbers
- FAQ's
- Few of the Asian Recipes to serve Cucumber Salad as a side
- More Salad Recipes with Cucumber from the blog
- Shop your Ingredients here
- Recipe Card
- Korean Cucumber Salad
About the recipe
Korean Cucumber salad is popular summer salad served in Korean restaurants and recently it has become internationally very popular. Thinly sliced cucumber slices are coated in sweet and spicy Gochugaru chilli dressing.
The combination of Gochugaru chilli flakes along with tangy vinegar, sweetener and salt along with garlic gives it a sweet spicy and tangy flavour which makes it so addictive.
It is a quick and easy to make salad and takes just 15 mins. from start to finish.
Why you should try this Korean Cucumber Salad recipe
- It is a flavorful and super easy to make.
- It is light in calories and rich in fibre, due to cucumbers.
- You can make it Gluten-free by using a gluten-free soy sauce.
- It is very versatile, you can serve it with various dishes and can have it as a snack or appetizer.
- You can adjust the ingredients and amount of chilli used in the recipe
Ingredients for Gochugaru Cucumber Salad Recipe
Cucumber- Traditionally Korean cucumbers are used in the recipe. But, everywhere we cannot get those. So, you can use the local cucumbers. Prefer English or Persian cucumbers. Peel the skin of cucumbers if the skin is thick.
For Salad Dressing- Gochugaru Chilli flakes, Soy Sauce, Vinegar(rice or any good plant based), Sweetener(any raw sugar like raw cane sugar, honey, coconut palm, maple syrup), salt (as required), minced fresh garlic.
I also added thinly sliced onions, these are optional.
Spring Onion greens and Sesame Seeds for garnish.
How to make Korean Cucumber Salad
Slice cucumbers in thin even slices. Sprinkle a tsp salt over it and let it sit for about 30 mins.to drain out extra water form cucumbers.
Cucumbers will release water, drain extra water.
If you are adding onions. soak it in cold water for 10-15 mins, so that the bitterness goes away. Drain nicely and pat dry on a kitchen towel.
Make salad dressing in a separate bowl.
Add salad dressing over cucumbers and onions , mix nicely coating all the cucumber slices. Serve garnish with spring onion greens and sesame seeds.
Pro tips to make perfect crispy Cucumber Salad with Gochujang chilli
- Take cucumbers like Persian/English with thin peel.
- Don't skip salting cucumbers. This makes the cucumbers more crisp as it takes out extra water from it.
- Make dressing in a separate bowl and then add cucumbers in the dressing.
- Add chilli in dressing as per your heat tolerance.
- Adjust the dressing ingredients as per the portion of the salad you are making.
Can I make ahead this Korean Salad with Cucumbers
You can make this salad a few hrs. ahead of serving. When preparing for a big party you can cut cucumbers, make the dressing and keep it refrigerated. At least 30 mins. before the serving mix it and serve.
Refrigerate the leftover salad in airtight container. Finish it within 2 days.
FAQ's
Red Chilli flakes will not give the same flavour as the Korean Gochugaru Chilli. You can add if you cannot source Korean Chilli flakes/paste. Add chilli flakes as per your heat tolerance.
Gochugaru Chilli flakes is now available at most of the good grocery stores and Asian stores. You can also get it online at Amazon. Check the link below.
Gochugaru is a kind of chilli flakes and Gochujang is thick chilli paste.
Few of the Asian Recipes to serve Cucumber Salad as a side
Fried Rice Chinese Style and Vegetable Manchurian or Vegetables in Hot Garlic Sauce, Burnt Garlic Mushroom Fried Rice, Chowmein
More Salad Recipes with Cucumber from the blog
Indian Kachumber, Shirazi Salad, Greek Salad, Healthy Sprouts Salad , and find many more HERE
Try these light and refreshing Cucumber and Carrot Mini Sandwich bites
Shop your Ingredients here
Recipe Card
Korean Cucumber Salad
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Knife
- Chopping Board
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 medium Cucumbers Persian/Korean/English
- 1 tsp Salt
- medium Sliced Onion optional
Salad Dressing
- 1-2 tsp Gochugaru Hot Pepper Flakes or as required
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tsp Soy Sauce or Tamari Sauce
- 1 tsp Any plant based Vinegar
- 1 tsp Sweetener Raw Sugar/Honey/Maple Syrup
- Toasted Sesame seeds
- Spring Onion Green for garnish
Instructions
- Cut Cucumbers in thin and uniform sized roundels.2 medium Cucumbers
- Add salt and leave cucumber slices on a colander for water to drain.1 tsp Salt
- After 15-20 mins, drain the water and take out cucumbers in another bowl. Do not squeeze cucumbers.
- When adding onions, slice it and keep in water for 10 mins, then rinse and drain the extra water.medium Sliced Onion
Make dressing
- Mix all the ingredients listed under dressing section.1-2 tsp Gochugaru Hot Pepper Flakes, 2 Garlic Cloves, 1 tsp Soy Sauce or Tamari Sauce, 1 tsp Any plant based Vinegar, 1 tsp Sweetener
- Now add dressing and onions with cucumbers and mix very nicely coating slices in dressing. Add salt as required.
- Add more chilli if required.
- Serve garnished with toasted sesame seeds and spring onion greens.Toasted Sesame seeds, Spring Onion Green
Notes
-
- Take cucumbers like Persian/English with thin peel.
- Don't skip salting cucumbers. This makes the cucumbers more crisp as it takes out extra water from it.
- Make dressing in a separate bowl and then add to cucumbers in the dressing.
- Add Gochugaru chilli in the dressing as per your heat tolerance.
- Adjust the dressing ingredients as per the portion of the salad you are making.
-
Chill the salad at least 30 mins before serving.
Also, whenever you try the recipe, I will love to hear/share your feedback or any queries in the comment section below. I will try to answer your queries as soon as possible.
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Swati
Renu
Tempting salad Swaty, would love to give it a try especially when I have so many cucumbers from my garden and looking for ways to use it.
Swati
Thank you Renu.. it's a nice refreshing salad with cucumbers. Do try.
Anna
Thank you for sharing.. I tried this with red pepper flakes and loved so much.
Swati
Thanks glad you loved it.
Arnav
This is easy and sounds so yummy
Seema
I tried this and loved it.