Description
Quick Cucumber Kimchi is a fresh, crunchy Korean-inspired side dish tossed with gochugaru, rice vinegar, savory seasonings, garlic, and sesame oil. It is ready in just 20 minutes with no fermentation required.
Ingredients
6 Persian or Lebanese cucumbers, sliced into ¼-inch thick coins
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon gochugaru
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 large clove garlic, grated
½ white onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Add the sliced cucumbers to a large bowl and sprinkle with the kosher salt and granulated sugar. Cover with hot water and let sit for 15 minutes.
- While the cucumbers soak, combine the gochugaru, rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, fish sauce, and grated garlic in a large bowl. Stir until well combined.
- Drain the cucumbers after 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly under cold water.
- Add the drained cucumbers and thinly sliced white onion to the dressing.
- Toss thoroughly until the cucumbers and onion are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve immediately for the crispest texture, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate before serving.
Notes
Reduce the gochugaru for a milder cucumber kimchi or add slightly more for extra heat.
Thinly sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, carrots, or radishes can be added for extra flavor, color, and texture.
Add a small splash of rice vinegar for a tangier flavor or a small amount of sugar to soften the acidity.
Persian or Lebanese cucumbers provide an especially crisp texture with relatively few large seeds.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
The cucumbers are crispest when freshly prepared and gradually become softer and more deeply seasoned during storage.
Serve cold or cool and stir well before serving refrigerated leftovers.
This quick version does not require fermentation and can be eaten immediately.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 85 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1050 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 1 mg
