Cucumber Kimchi – Spicy Cucumber Salad

This spicy, refreshing salad is a staple at every group dinner my mom hosts. This cucumber kimchi is not fermented, but uses fresh ingredients and should be eaten within the first couple of days after you make it.

The best part is that like most of the recipes I share here, it is delicious and easy to make!

When it comes to which red pepper to use, it’s best to use Korean chili pepper flakes (called gochugaru) to get the best flavor; however, I’ve used Turkish red pepper and it also tastes good! I’ve seen others use cayenne, or even paprika.

Here’s what you need:

1 English cucumber or 2 pickling cucumbers, sliced

1 carrot, julienned or otherwise thinly sliced

½ of a medium white onion

1 green onion

1 clove of garlic

1 tsp salt

1-2 teaspoons red pepper

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp sugar, stevia or other sweetener of choice

½ tsp fish sauce (optional)

¼ tsp sesame oil

1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

Begin by slicing your cucumbers and onions. Add these with the salt and sugar/stevia into a bowl and mix with your hands for 1-2 minutes.

Set aside, and begin to chop carrots into thin slices, followed by your garlic which you can smash and chop.

Your cucumbers should have been sitting for about 5 minutes now, at which point drain any excess liquid. Add in the carrots, garlic, red pepper, vinegar and fish sauce and mix thoroughly with your hands.

Before serving, add the sesame oil and garnish with sesame seeds.

This is a wonderful side dish to accompany any meal. In our home, we’ve found it is also a great complement to kebabs!

Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Cucumber Kimchi

Side Dish – Korean

By Janice Yucel – Serves: 4

Prep Time: 15 Minutes – Cooking Time: 0 minutes – Total Time: 15 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 English cucumber or 2 pickling cucumbers, sliced
• 1 carrot, julienned or otherwise thinly sliced
• ½ of a medium white onion
• 1 green onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1-2 teaspoons red pepper (add more according to your spice tolerance)
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp sugar, stevia or other sweetener of choice
• ½ tsp fish sauce (optional)
• ¼ tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1

Slice your cucumbers and onions. Add these with the salt and sugar/stevia into a bowl and mix with your hands for 1-2 minutes.

2

Set aside, and begin to chop carrots into thin slices, followed by your garlic.

3

Drain any excess liquid from cucumbers.

4

Add in the carrots, garlic, red pepper, vinegar and fish sauce and mix thoroughly with your hands.

5

Before serving, add sesame oil and garnish with sesame seeds.