Sweet and Sour Oi Muchim (Seasoned Cucumber Salad) Without Salting
A 3-minute oi muchim side dish tossed fresh in a sweet and sour seasoning without salting beforehand.
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 an instant side dish tossed and enjoyed right away in 3 minutes without any salting step. A small amount of fish sauce brings out savory depth, while crunchy cucumber and pungent onion come together to wake up your appetite. Water draws out easily, so it is best to toss just enough for one meal.
- Servings
- about 3–4 servings
- Cook time
- 3 minprep not included
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spiciness
- Mildly spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- White cucumber (or spiny cucumber (gasi-oi))2
- Onion1/2
Seasoning
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)1 1/2 tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)1 tbsp
- Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang)1 tbsp
- Fish sauce (or dried anchovies)1/2 tbsp (sand lance)
- Minced garlic1/2 tbsp
- Vinegar1–2 tbsp
- Corn syrup (mulyeot)1 tbsp
- Sugar1/2 tbsp
- Toasted sesame oil1/2 tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds1 tbsp
- If you like onion, you can use 1.
Steps
Prepare the ingredients
Prepare 2 white cucumbers and 1/2 onion.
If you like onion, you can use 1.
Slice the ingredients
Trim off both bitter ends and cut diagonally or into round slices that are not too thin, about 3 to 4 mm thick.
Thinly slice the onion.
Make the seasoning
In a mixing bowl, add 1 1/2 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean red chili paste), 1 tbsp regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang), 1/2 tbsp fish sauce, 1/2 tbsp minced garlic, 1 to 2 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp corn syrup (mulyeot), and 1/2 tbsp sugar, then mix well to combine.
Adding a small amount of fish sauce as the key touch instantly wakes up the flat flavor with savory depth.
Toss
Add the cucumber and onion, toss evenly with the seasoning, taste, adjust with salt, and add more sweetness or tanginess to your liking.
Finish by adding toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds at the end.
Finish
Refreshing seasoned cucumber salad is finished in an instant.
With every bite, the rising sweetness and cucumber fragrance fill your mouth.
The firm, crunching texture also feels wonderful.
Ppunwife's tips
- If tossed without salting, water draws out, so toss just enough in the seasoning right away to enjoy deliciously in one meal.
- Adding a small amount of fish sauce as the key touch instantly wakes up the flat flavor with savory depth.
FAQ
Can I toss the cucumber without salting it first?
This recipe is meant to be tossed and eaten fresh without salting, and because water can draw out over time, it is best to toss only as much as you will eat in one meal.
Can I use another fish sauce instead of sand lance fish sauce?
Anchovy fish sauce is also noted in the ingredient listing.
Is it okay to use spiny cucumber (gasi-oi) instead of white cucumber?
Spiny cucumber is mentioned alongside white cucumber in the ingredient notes, so it can be used the same way.
