Refreshing Cucumber Gochujang Salad
Spicy, Sweet, and Tangy! Easy Gochujang Cucumber Salad Recipe
Hello everyone! Today, I’m sharing a recipe for a wonderfully crunchy, sweet, and tangy cucumber salad made with gochujang. This simple side dish uses cucumbers you might have in your fridge and features a spicy sauce that’s loved by everyone, young and old. If you’ve lost your appetite or need a quick side dish, this recipe is perfect!
Ingredients- 1 cucumber
- 0.5 Tbsp coarse sea salt (for salting cucumbers)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 0.5 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash one fresh cucumber thoroughly. First, trim off the ends, then slice it diagonally at about 0.5 cm thickness. Slicing them this way helps the dressing to penetrate evenly, making them even more delicious.
Step 2
Place the sliced cucumber in a bowl and add 0.5 Tbsp of coarse sea salt. Gently mix with your hands, ensuring the salt is evenly distributed over the cucumber slices. Let the cucumber salt for 30 minutes. This process draws out excess moisture, making the cucumber extra crisp and removing any bitterness.
Step 3
About halfway through the salting time (around 15 minutes), gently mix the cucumbers again. This ensures the salt works more evenly throughout, enhancing the pickling effect.
Step 4
After salting for 30 minutes, lightly rinse the cucumbers under cold running water. Be careful not to rinse too vigorously, as this can wash away too much of the salt.
Step 5
Gently press the rinsed cucumbers with your hands to squeeze out excess water. Properly removing the water is key to preventing the dressing from becoming watery and ensuring it adheres well for a tastier salad. Place the squeezed cucumbers back into a clean bowl.
Step 6
Now, let’s make the delicious dressing! To the bowl with the cucumbers, add 1 Tbsp sugar, 0.5 Tbsp gochugaru, 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp vinegar, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and finally, 0.5 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds for a nutty aroma.
Step 7
Gently toss the cucumbers with the seasoning using your hands, ensuring the dressing is evenly distributed. Mix with care so that the flavors meld beautifully into every slice of cucumber.
Step 8
Voila! Your crunchy, sweet, and tangy gochujang cucumber salad is ready. It’s absolutely delicious served over a warm bowl of rice! Make this simple dish to brighten up your mealtime.
