Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim 오이무침)

I needed a side dish to go along with the bulgogi I made earlier this week, and this cucumber salad recipe sounded so good! My husband and I both love cucumber and wanted to try this Korean version. Not only did it sound good, but it also sounded like it would be quick and easy to make with the bulgogi. I mean, no cooking involved, it’s full of cucumber, and it’s a little spicy? Sold!

A simple light Korean cucumber side dish that’s like a salad. Very light seasoning allows the cucumber flavor to stand out.

Recipe Author: JinJoo Lee at Kimchimari
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The Ingredients

There weren’t a lot of ingredients needed to make this cucumber salad. I even had a few in my pantry like soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar. That left a few items to buy, and I found all but the Korean red chili powder (gochugaru) at my regular grocery store. The gochugaru was easy to find online, though, and I excitedly placed an order for a new chili powder because I love spicy food!

Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim 오이무침) Ingredients
English cucumber, green onions, sesame seeds, Korean red chili powder (gochugaru), soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar

The Process

I made my Korean cucumber salad while the meat for my bulgogi was marinating. I expected it to be quick, but I was shocked when it took me all of six minutes from start to finish. No, that’s not a typo, the salad was done in six minutes. I think using my mandoline to slice the cucumber really sped things up (I used the thickest setting for the slices). The rest was mostly measuring ingredients and stirring the salad together.

I did double up on the chili powder. Like I mentioned, I love spicy food. The original amount didn’t seem spicy to me at all. I found double gave me a little pop of spice without overpowering the rest of the ingredients.

Once the salad was mixed up and the seasonings adjusted, I popped it into the refrigerator so the cucumber could absorb the dressing while I cooked the bulgogi to go with it. What a combination!

Cucumber sliced with a mandoline
Cucumber sliced with a mandoline

So how was it?

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Cool cucumber in a dressing that mixes sweet, tangy, salty, and spicy flavors makes such a delicious side dish! The best part is it's ready in six minutes and there is no cooking involved. I did have to order the Korean red chili powder (gochugaru) online, but it was worth the wait. My husband and I loved this salad, and I can't wait to make it again. It will make a quick, flavorful, and easy side dish for our summer meals!
The Hungry Pinner
The Hungry Pinnerhttps://www.hungrypinner.com
I'm Candice, and I'm The Hungry Pinner. I created this blog to share my love for cooking and my experiences with the MANY recipes I've found on Pinterest over the years. Join me as I blog my way through those recipes to find out if they are worth trying yourself.

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Cool cucumber in a dressing that mixes sweet, tangy, salty, and spicy flavors makes such a delicious side dish! The best part is it's ready in six minutes and there is no cooking involved. I did have to order the Korean red chili powder (gochugaru) online, but it was worth the wait. My husband and I loved this salad, and I can't wait to make it again. It will make a quick, flavorful, and easy side dish for our summer meals!Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim 오이무침)