Spicy Cucumber Salad

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This Spicy Cucumber Salad is easy to make and fun to eat! You’ll love the spiral cut cucumbers and the spicy, tangy dressing.

Chopsticks pulling up a bite of spicy cucumber salad

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Cucumbers are so refreshing and make the perfect salad! With a handful of ingredients, you can create one of my favorite dishes to eat standing at the fridge, right out of the Tupperware with my fingers. The taste is deliciously spicy and slightly sweet, and you’ll love the crunchy mini Persian cucumbers.

What is Spicy Cucumber Salad?

Spicy Cucumber Salad, also known as oi muchim, originated as a Korean side dish, or a banchan (a small side dishes served along with cooked rice in Korean cuisine). Spicy cucumber salad is as simple as it sounds- a salad of cucumbers that is spicy. Many people use Persian cucumbers because they are miniature and they plan to cut the cucumber on a spiral, but some use English cucumbers. Both of these are used over the typical garden variety cucumber because they have less seeds and less excess liquid. An essential ingredient being gochujang for spice and flavor, other ingredients include green onions, salt, white vinegar or rice vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, sesame oil, red pepper flakes or Korean chili flakes, gochugaru, garlic, and sometimes kimchi and chili oil. The way the cucumbers are cut varies from a rough cut to coins to spiral, your preference. Spicy cucumber salad is often enjoyed as a side dish to many Asian dishes or in Korean restaurants, but can also be eaten on its own.

How to Spiral Cut Cucumbers

Step 1. Slice each cucumber by placing one between two chopsticks. Make 45° angle slices down the length of the cucumber. The chopsticks make it so you don’t cut all the way through.

Step 2. Flip the cucumber over, still keeping it between the chopsticks. Make straight up and down slices down the length of the cucumber. Repeat with all the cucumbers.

What is Gochujang?

Gochujang is a red chili paste that is a savory, sweet, and spicy. It is a fermented paste that is popular in Korean cooking. It is made from a glutinous rice which is where the sweetness of the paste comes from.

How to Make Spicy Cucumber Salad

After slicing the cucumbers, place sliced cucumbers in a large bowl and add salt. Let them sit for 10 minutes. Rinse excess salt off the cucumbers. Drain and pat dry.
In a small bowl mix the rest of the ingredients.
Pour dressing over the cucumbers and toss to combine. Serve immediately for the crunchiest cucumbers.

What to Serve with Spicy Cucumber Salad

Many people eat Korean BBQ with spicy cucumber salad. The spice and crunch cut through any oil of the meat really well. It goes great with seafood such as shrimp, and also tastes great with a grilled or marinated chicken. You can also serve with plain brown or white rice for a simple meal. Some people add avocado to this and say the combination tastes like a deconstructed veggie sushi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you peel cucumbers for spicy cucumber salad?

No, you can leave the skin on the cucumber. This adds to the crispy crunch.

Which cucumbers are best for spicy cucumber salad?

We used Persian cucumbers because they are small and perfect for cutting into the spiral we were looking for, but English cucumbers work well too if you are just planning on cutting them thin.
The cucumber that doesn’t work is the garden cucumber, the traditional cucumber you see at the grocery store, dark green. These have a lot of seeds and their skin is very tough. They don’t work well for a cucumber salad recipe.

How to keep cucumber salad crisp?

There’s a little trick to salt the sliced cucumber before you dress it. This draws out excess moisture and allows your salad to stay crisper for longer.