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Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad

A crisp and vibrant side salad featuring thinly sliced cucumbers tossed in a garlic, soy, and gochugaru dressing.

15 minEasyServes 450 cal/serving

KoreanSaladNo-CookVeganVegetarianLow CarbKosher-styleDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreeShellfish-FreePork-FreeLow-SodiumCorn-Free

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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 tbsp Korean red pepper flakes
  • 2 stalks green onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. 1

    Toss 2 lbs thinly sliced Persian cucumbers with 1/2 tsp fine sea salt in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

  2. 2

    Gently squeeze the cucumbers to remove excess water, then drain.

  3. 3

    In a mixing bowl, combine 1 tbsp Korean red pepper flakes, 2 stalks chopped green onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, and 1 tsp granulated sugar.

  4. 4

    Add cucumbers to the bowl and toss until evenly coated.

  5. 5

    Garnish with 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds and serve cold.

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Questions

Why salt and drain the vegetables in Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad?

Step 1 reads: "Toss 2 lbs thinly sliced Persian cucumbers with 1/2 tsp fine sea salt in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes." Salt pulls water out. Doing it at step 1 means that water ends up in the colander rather than in the finished dish.

Is there a substitute for gochugaru in Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad?

The entry for Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad calls for 1 tbsp Korean red pepper flakes. In its place: Use half as much crushed red pepper flakes, or sweet paprika with a pinch of cayenne. Gochugaru is milder and fruitier than standard flakes, so go by taste.

How hot is Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad?

Moderately. The heat in Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad comes from 1 tbsp Korean red pepper flakes. For a milder plate, halve the gochugaru; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Can I make Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad is 1 tbsp soy sauce. Swap the soy-based sauce for tamari or coconut aminos. Everything else proceeds as written.

Is Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad keto-friendly?

A serving of Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad carries 6 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of it fiber. Against a strict 20 g keto day that is 30 percent of the budget; against a moderate 100 g low-carb day it is 6 percent.

Serve it with

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