Spicy and Tangy Stir-Fried Onions and Seasoned Cucumber Side Dishes
A quick side-dish pair of spicy stir-fried onions and sweet-and-tangy seasoned cucumber made with seasonal vegetables.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
Practical side dishes made within 20 minutes using sweet onions and crisp cucumber. Slice the onions on the thicker side and let them take in a bit of salted water before cooking so the seasoning absorbs evenly, and rinse and drain the salted cucumber before tossing it right away to keep its crunch alive. The sweet and spicy seasonings are great for waking up a lost appetite.
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Cook time
- 20 minprep not included
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Mildly spicy
Ingredients
Stir-fried onion ingredients
- Onion1, 220 g
- Salt1 tsp
Stir-fried onion seasoning
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)1 tbsp
- Oyster sauce or regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang)1 tsp
- Minced green onion1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tsp
- Toasted sesame oil
- Toasted sesame seeds
Seasoned cucumber ingredients
- Cucumber1, 200 g
- Salt1 tsp
Seasoned cucumber seasoning
- Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)1/2 tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)1 tbsp
- Vinegar1 tbsp
- Minced green onion1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tsp
- Green plum syrup (maesil-cheong) (or corn syrup (mulyeot))1/2 tbsp
- Toasted sesame oila little
- Toasted sesame seedsa little
- Let sit for about 10 minutes so the onions absorb the salt before stir-frying.
- Add 1 tsp of salt and let pickle for 20 minutes, then rinse in water and drain off the moisture.
- Depending on preference, you may also slice them thin or julienne them to toss.
Steps
1. Do not slice the onions too thinly; cut them into slightly thick slices.
2. Add salt and...
3. Add 2 to 3 tbsp of water along with it and mix evenly.
If the onions are completely dry, the salt does not absorb well.
Let sit for about 10 minutes so the onions absorb the seasoning...
4. Grease a heated pan with cooking oil and stir-fry briskly.
5. Once the onions soften and turn translucent, add all the seasoning ingredients except the toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds,
and stir-fry so the seasoning absorbs evenly into the onions...
6. Finish by adding the toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds at the very end.
If you stir-fry over high heat, the seasoning boils down completely dry and the stir-fried onions will not stay moist.
Seasoned cucumber (2 servings)
Ingredients: 1 cucumber (200 g), 1 tsp salt
Seasoning: 1/2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red chili paste), 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp minced green onion, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1/2 tbsp green plum syrup (maesil-cheong) (or corn syrup (mulyeot)),
a little toasted sesame oil, a little toasted sesame seeds
1. Cut the cucumber into 5 equal lengths, then slice each piece lengthwise into 4 or 5 spears.
2. Add 1 tsp of salt and let pickle for 20 minutes.
Rinse the pickled cucumber in water and drain the moisture.
3. Add all the seasoning ingredients and mix them together.
4. Add the seasoning to the pickled cucumber and...
Toss gently by hand.
Ppunwife's tips
- If you stir-fry over high heat, the seasoning boils down completely dry and the stir-fried onions will not stay moist.
- Cucumbers are crunchy and delicious when tossed and eaten fresh right away.
FAQ
Why do you add water when sprinkling salt on the onions?
If the surface of the onions is dry, the salt does not absorb easily, so adding 2 to 3 tbsp of water and mixing well helps the seasoning seep in smoothly.
Is there a substitute for oyster sauce in the stir-fried onion seasoning?
When you do not have oyster sauce, you can replace it with the same amount of regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang).
How do you keep the crisp texture of the seasoned cucumber?
The secret to keeping its crisp texture is to pickle it in salt for 20 minutes, rinse and squeeze out the moisture, and toss it right before serving rather than preparing it far in advance.
How should the heat be controlled when stir-frying the onions?
If cooked over high heat, the seasoning quickly boils down dry and loses its moisture, so cook over a moderate heat level.
