Crispy Korean Cucumber and Soybean Paste Salad
Super Simple Side Dish: Cucumber and Soybean Paste Salad
A refreshingly crisp salad made with Korean cucumbers and a savory-sweet soybean paste dressing. This quick and easy side dish is perfect for any meal, stimulating your appetite and making you crave more rice. It’s so simple, even beginners can master it!
Ingredients (Adjust quantities as needed)- 10 Korean cucumbers (Oigochu)
- 8 Tbsp Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp Mirin (or cooking wine)
- 4 Tbsp Oligodang (or corn syrup)
- 0.6 Tbsp minced garlic (approx. 1/2 Tbsp)
- 2 Tbsp chopped green onions
- 1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the Korean cucumbers thoroughly under running water. Trim off the ends and cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm long. Drain any excess water.
Step 2
Next, let’s prepare the delicious dressing. In a large bowl, combine 8 Tbsp of Doenjang, 1 Tbsp of Gochujang, 3 Tbsp of Mirin, 4 Tbsp of Oligodang, 0.6 Tbsp of minced garlic, 2 Tbsp of chopped green onions, and 1/2 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds. Mix everything well until smoothly combined. (Tip: If you’re halving the amount of cucumbers, simply halve all the dressing ingredients as well for a perfectly balanced flavor!)
Step 3
Add the prepared Korean cucumbers to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss to coat the cucumbers evenly with the soybean paste mixture. Be careful not to overmix, to maintain the cucumbers’ crisp texture. Your refreshing and flavorful cucumber salad is now ready to be enjoyed. It’s incredibly easy, isn’t it?
