Sweet and Sour Sangchu Oi Muchim (Seasoned Lettuce and Cucumber)
A summer side dish of crisp cucumber and slightly bitter lettuce tossed in a sweet and sour gochujang dressing.
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 →
This is a super simple side dish made by thinly slicing unpickled cucumber and tossing it with tender lettuce in a sweet and sour dressing. The sweet and spicy seasoning whets your appetite, making it also perfect as a topping for bibimbap or bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles).
- Servings
- about 3–4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spiciness
- Mildly spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Cucumber2
- Lettuce150 g
- Onion1/2
Seasoning
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)2 tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)2 tbsp
- Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang) (or brewed soy sauce (yangjo-ganjang))1 tbsp
- Vinegar2 tbsp
- Sugar1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tbsp
- Toasted sesame oil
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Use 2 white cucumbers, about a handful of lettuce (150 g), and about 1/2 medium onion.
- Cucumber pairs well with garlic chives, water dropwort, or chamnamul (short-fruit pimpinella), so it is also great to toss it with an added ingredient.
Steps
Prepare the ingredients
Prepare 2 white cucumbers and about a handful of lettuce (150 g).
Use about 1/2 medium onion.
Slice the ingredients
Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and slice them thinly on the diagonal.
Since you will season them without pickling in salt, slice them thinly so they blend well with the lettuce.
Cut the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
Make the dressing
Except for the toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, mix all the seasoning ingredients together until well combined.
Toss the ingredients
In a bowl, add the cucumber, onion, and prepared seasoning...
Toss well.
Finish by adding the lettuce, toasted sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds.
Finish
Tossing and eating it right away fills your mouth with crispness and refreshing flavor.
Cucumber pairs well with garlic chives, water dropwort, chamnamul (short-fruit pimpinella), and more, so tossing it with an added ingredient is also delicious.
Both cucumber and lettuce are in season, making them great in taste and price, so shake off the midday heat with this refreshing cucumber salad.
Ppunwife's tips
- Since you will season the cucumber without pickling, slice it thinly so it blends well with the lettuce.
- Because the seasoning whets your appetite, serving it with bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) or bibimbap makes a delicious, satisfying meal.
FAQ
Do I need to salt the cucumber before tossing?
Without pickling, thinly slice the fresh cucumber on the diagonal and toss it directly with the lettuce.
Can I add other vegetables besides lettuce?
You can also add vegetables that go well with cucumber, such as garlic chives, water dropwort (minari), or chamnamul (short-fruit pimpinella).
Do I toss the lettuce with the seasoning from the start?
Toss the cucumber and onion in the seasoning first, then finish by adding the lettuce, toasted sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds at the end.
