Crispy and Sweet & Spicy Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
Mom’s Homemade Cucumber Salad: Deliciously Refreshing, Even Better with Time!
Today, we’re making my mom’s special cucumber salad, which gets even more flavorful as it sits! While it’s delicious freshly mixed, it creates a fantastic combination when slightly aged and served with fried rice. Let’s quickly mix this up and enjoy a tasty dinner tonight!
Main Ingredients- 5 cucumbers (choose fresh ones)
- 1 onion (medium size)
- A bit of green onion (adjust to your preference)
Seasoning- 2 Tbsp fine gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 2 Tbsp coarse gochugaru (for spicy flavor and color)
- 1 Tbsp sugar (adjust sweetness)
- 3 Tbsp anchovy sauce (for umami)
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (for gloss and sweetness)
- 2 Tbsp vinegar (cuts through richness)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (for subtle sweetness and aroma)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (for fragrance)
- Pinch of salt (for seasoning)
- Pinch of sesame seeds (for nutty flavor and aroma)
- 2 Tbsp fine gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 2 Tbsp coarse gochugaru (for spicy flavor and color)
- 1 Tbsp sugar (adjust sweetness)
- 3 Tbsp anchovy sauce (for umami)
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (for gloss and sweetness)
- 2 Tbsp vinegar (cuts through richness)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (for subtle sweetness and aroma)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (for fragrance)
- Pinch of salt (for seasoning)
- Pinch of sesame seeds (for nutty flavor and aroma)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the 5 cucumbers thoroughly. Rubbing them vigorously with coarse salt not only cleans them but also helps achieve a crispier texture.
Step 2
After washing, pat the cucumbers dry and slice them into bite-sized rounds, about 0.5 cm thick. Slicing them too thinly might reduce their crunch.
Step 3
Add 1 tablespoon of coarse salt to the sliced cucumbers, mix well, and let them salt for about 30 minutes. The cucumbers will wilt and release their water.
Step 4
Peel and wash the onion. Slice it thinly into strips. Adding onion to the cucumber salad contributes a pleasant sweetness and extra crunch.
Step 5
Finely chop the green onion. The fragrant aroma of the green onion will enhance the overall flavor of the cucumber salad.
Step 6
In a large bowl, combine all the seasoning ingredients and mix well to create the sauce. Using both fine and coarse gochugaru will provide a richer flavor and color. (2 Tbsp fine gochugaru, 2 Tbsp coarse gochugaru, 1 Tbsp sugar, 3 Tbsp anchovy sauce, 2 Tbsp corn syrup, 2 Tbsp vinegar, 1 Tbsp plum extract, 1 Tbsp minced garlic)
Step 7
After salting, lightly rinse the cucumbers under cold running water and then squeeze them firmly by hand to remove as much excess water as possible. This step is crucial for maintaining the crispiness of the cucumbers.
Step 8
Add the sliced onion and chopped green onion to the squeezed cucumbers. Pour the prepared seasoning sauce over them and gently mix everything together until the seasoning is evenly distributed. If it tastes a bit bland, add a tiny bit of MSG or salt to adjust the final seasoning.
Step 9
Finally, sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds for an added nutty aroma that elevates the flavor. While it’s delicious right away, letting it sit in the refrigerator for a while allows the flavors to meld, resulting in an even deeper taste.
