This Korean Cucumber Salad is a refreshing side dish when you are looking for something refreshing, cool, and crisp. Adding a tasty side such as this can easily finish off a meal. The coolness of the cucumber with this flavorful spicy sesame soy dressing is a perfect match. You and your guests will be asking for more.
Put this salad together in less than 5 minutes. Simple to make, delicious to eat. Simply combine the ingredients, thinly slice your cucumbers, and mix them. Ready to serve.
Popular Korean Side Dish: Cucumber Salad
I always have the ingredients at hand, but I may need to buy some fresh cucumbers if I don’t have any in my refrigerator. It is so versatile, assembled quickly, and can be served along with some rice (cauliflower rice if you are going low-carb/Keto), or a protein of your choice.
Recipe
Ingredient List
- Long English cucumber, or any seedless cucumber: 1
- Onion, thinly sliced, 1/4 cup
- Garlic: 2 cloves minced
- Regular Soy Sauce: 1 tbsp
- Sesame oil: 1 tbsp
- Gochugaru: 2 tsp
- Rice vinegar: 2 tsp
- White granulated sugar: 1 tsp
- Sesame seeds: 1 tsp
Instructions
Combine the sauce ingredients first before adding the sauce to your cucumbers and onions.
- Cucumbers: slice thinly, removing the ends. Transfer them to the serving bowl.
- Onions, thinly slice about 1/4 cup
- Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients above.
- Pour the sauce over the cucumbers and mix until the cucumbers are coated in the sauce.
- Enjoy!
Tips
May substitute coconut aminos or tamari sauce (for Keto and/or paleo-friendly) for the regular soy sauce.
Eliminate the onions if you do not want them in the salad.
The cochugaru (gochujang is similar but in a paste rather than flakes) can be found in Korean or larger Asian grocery stores. Also, Amazon has a nice selection as well.
For extra crispy cucumbers, sprinkle salt over the sliced cucumbers, and let them sit for 5 minutes, rinse under cool water. Strain any excess liquid.
After mixing the salad and sauce, place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to allow the cucumbers time to absorb the sauce.