Description
Easy Korean Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and spicy side dish that combines thinly sliced cucumbers with a tangy and flavorful dressing of rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Perfectly chilled and garnished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds, this quick no-cook salad brings a crisp, vibrant touch to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 large cucumbers (or 4 Persian cucumbers), thinly sliced
- 1 green onion, finely sliced
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (gochugaru or crushed red pepper)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare Cucumbers: Place the thinly sliced cucumbers in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let them sit for 10–15 minutes so the salt can draw out excess moisture from the cucumbers.
- Drain and Squeeze: After resting, drain the cucumbers and gently squeeze out any remaining liquid to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Toss Salad: Add the drained cucumbers to the dressing and toss well to coat all the slices evenly with the flavorful dressing.
- Add Garnishes: Stir in the finely sliced green onions, then sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the top for a nutty finish.
- Chill and Serve: For best flavor, chill the salad in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes before serving. The salad is best enjoyed fresh.
Notes
- This salad is best served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less red pepper flakes according to your preference.
- To maintain a crunchy texture, avoid marinating the cucumbers for too long.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 2.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
