Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)

5 from 6 votes

This simple Korean Cucumber Salad is easy to make and adds a zesty spicy side dish for any meal! It's also called Oi Muchim and is often served as banchan.

Prep Time15

Resting Time:30

Total Time45

Course: Salad

Cuisine: korean

Servings: servings

Calories: 40kcal

Author: Jayne Harter ~ The Art of Food and Wine

Ingredients

2 cups Cucumbers - sliced 1/8 inch thick 1-2 cucumbers depending on size
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1 - 4 teaspoons gochugaru depending on desired heat level
1 - 4 teaspoons sesame seeds add as desired for flavor
2 Green onions, white and green part, sliced 1/4 inch thick around

Instructions

Slice cucumbers into thin slices, about 1/8 inch thick.
Toss them with 1 teaspoon of salt and place in a colander, and let it rest over a bowl for 30 minutes.
The salt will help to draw out the water in the cucumbers. Do not skip this step.
In a medium bowl blend minced garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar. Mix and set aside.
In a small bowl add gochugaru and sesame seeds and mix together.
Add gochugaru sesame seed mixture one teaspoon at a time to the soy sauce mixture, blend, then taste test.
This will help you to control the heat level of your salad.
Then add one teaspoon at a time, taste after each additional, until you have your desired spice/heat level.
Add the sliced green onions to the mixture and mix them in.
Blot any excess salt off of the cucumbers.
Pour over the cucumbers, stir everything together, and serve.

Notes

Gochugaru is a spicy Korean chili-based spice.

Substitutes for "gochugaru" - when it comes to this unique spice you have a few substitution options that might already be in your kitchen cabinet.

Crushed Red Pepper - About 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper is equal to 1 teaspoon of gochugaru.
Paprika - A teaspoon of paprika is equal to 1 teaspoon of gochugaru. When substituting with paprika we like to use a hot paprika.
Cayenne Pepper - 3/4 of a teaspoon will be equal to 1 teaspoon of gochugaru.
Cayenne Pepper + Smoked Paprika - use 1/2 tsp cayenne plus 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

Storage - This salad will store well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in a tightly sealed container. We suggest refreshing your salad by draining off any excess liquid. Also, add a few freshly chopped green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

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