Crispy Cucumber Salad: A Simple, Refreshing, and Delicious Side Dish
Essential Home Cooking! A Recipe for Refreshing Cucumber Salad that Highlights the Natural Flavor of Cucumbers
Introducing a recipe for a crispy and refreshing cucumber salad, perfect for any season! Cucumbers are an ever-popular ingredient that’s always easy to enjoy. When you toss fresh cucumbers with a sweet and tangy sauce, you create a magical side dish that makes a bowl of rice disappear in an instant. While some people might not enjoy the distinct scent of cucumbers, I personally love how their refreshing aroma helps me forget the heat. If there’s a vegetable I feel like I could drink like water on a hot day, it’s definitely cucumbers. Among the many ways to prepare them, I believe the easiest and quickest is this cucumber salad. While they’re delicious dipped in ssamjang, a cucumber salad dressed in a sweet and tangy sauce offers a whole different kind of delight. In this recipe, we’ll add plenty of hidden ingredients along with the cucumbers to enhance the crispiness and sweetness, creating an even richer flavor. Curious about what ingredients are included? Open your eyes wide and check out the recipe below!
Main Ingredients- 2 cucumbers
- 1/2 apple
- 1/2 onion
- 1/8 red cabbage
Seasoning- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the cucumbers thoroughly under running water. Use a peeler to thinly shave off the bumpy outer skin for a cleaner finish. Slice them into bite-sized pieces, about 0.5cm thick, either into half-moons or on an angle.
Step 2
Slice the onion into 0.5cm thick pieces. Cut the red cabbage and apple into smaller cubes, about 0.5cm, which are slightly smaller than the cucumber pieces. It’s important to cut the vegetables into appropriate sizes so the seasoning can be absorbed well.
Step 3
In a large bowl, combine the prepared cucumbers, onion, red cabbage, and apple. Add all the seasoning ingredients (2 Tbsp gochujang, 3 Tbsp gochugaru, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp vinegar, 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp sesame oil). Finally, sprinkle with 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds. Gently mix everything together with your hands or use a spatula to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated. Your crispy and delicious cucumber salad is ready! It tastes great immediately, or you can chill it in the refrigerator for a more refreshing experience.
