Description
Refreshing Korean cucumber salad dances with fiery gochugaru and tangy rice vinegar, creating a zesty side dish that electrifies summer meals. Cool cucumbers meet bold Korean flavors, offering a crisp, spicy experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) sugar
- Salt to taste
Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) sesame seeds
Instructions
- Delicately glide a mandoline across crisp cucumbers, creating uniform, translucent slices that capture the essence of precision.
- Sprinkle a whisper of salt over the cucumber ribbons, allowing them to rest for a brief moment, releasing excess moisture and concentrating their natural crispness.
- Craft a vibrant flavor symphony in a mixing bowl, combining minced garlic, finely chopped green onions, fiery gochugaru, umami-rich soy sauce, fragrant sesame oil, tangy rice vinegar, and a touch of sweetening sugar.
- Gently pat the cucumber slices dry, then lovingly fold them into the zesty marinade, ensuring each translucent piece is thoroughly embraced by the bold, Korean-inspired seasoning.
- Refrigerate the salad, allowing the flavors to harmonize and intensify for approximately 20 minutes, creating a refreshing and electrifying taste experience.
- Just before serving, shower the salad with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, adding a nutty crunch and visual allure to this vibrant Korean-style cucumber sensation.
Notes
- Slice cucumbers ultra-thin for a delicate, refined texture that absorbs seasonings perfectly.
- Quick salting technique helps remove excess moisture, ensuring a crisp and not watery cucumber salad.
- Adjust spice levels by reducing or increasing gochugaru for personalized heat intensity.
- Transform this dish into a low-carb option by replacing sugar with stevia or eliminating sweetener completely.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg