Spicy Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)

Name: Spicy Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 3 Lebanese cucumbers (approximately 400g); 1 tsp Gewürzhaus Pyramid Flake Salt; 6 tsp rice wine vinegar; 1 tsp soy sauce; 2 tsp Gewürzhaus Korean Gochugaru Blend; 2 tsp raw sugar; 1 tsp Gewürzhaus Garlic Salt; 3 tsp sesame oil; 2 spring onions, chopped finely; 1 tsp Gewürzhaus Sesame Seed (Golden or Black)

Easy

30mins

Spicy Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)

Rated 4.1 stars by 7 users

Cuisine

Korean

Servings

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

30 minutes

Incredibly simple to make with no cooking required; a refreshing and aromatic cucumber salad that serves as a perfect side dish to Korean BBQ Beef or added to Bibimbap.

Image of Spicy Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)

Ingredients

3 Lebanese cucumbers (approximately 400g)
1 tsp Gewürzhaus Pyramid Flake Salt
6 tsp rice wine vinegar
1 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp Gewürzhaus Korean Gochugaru Blend
2 tsp raw sugar
1 tsp Gewürzhaus Garlic Salt
3 tsp sesame oil
2 spring onions, chopped finely
1 tsp Gewürzhaus Sesame Seed (Golden or Black)

Directions

Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and then slice diagonally into 2cm pieces.
Massage the salt lightly into the cucumber, add 3tsp of the rice wine vinegar, mix well and transfer to a strainer set over a bowl. Let it marinate for 30 minutes and stir halfway through.
Combine the remaining rice wine vinegar with soy sauce, Korean Gochugaru Blend, raw sugar, garlic salt and sesame oil in a jar with a lid. Shake to incorporate.
Once the cucumbers are ready, gently squeeze the juice out and rinse them under cold water. Give them another rinse if they taste too salty for your liking.
Combine cucumbers with the dressing. Stir through spring onions and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.

Recipe Note

Serve this spicy cucumber salad alongside a feast of Korean Fried Chicken or Korean BBQ Beef (Bulgogi) and steamed rice. Alternatively, mix it through your Bibimbap. This type of salad is a perfect example of Banchan (side dishes) and is popular in Korean BBQ restaurants.

The salad can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The longer it sits, the more dressing the cucumbers will absorb - however, they’re unlikely to become soggy thanks to the quick-pickling method of preparing them. This helps to draw out excess moisture from the cucumber, helping them to maintain their crunch.