SNS Hit! Cream Cheese & Pollack Roe Cucumber Open Toast
Recreating Jeon Hyun-moo’s Cucumber Toast Recipe: Making a Mouthwatering Sandwich with Pickled Cucumber and Pollack Roe
I tried making the viral cucumber toast from the popular Korean show ‘I Live Alone’ (Na Hon San)! I was so curious about the unique combination of pollack roe and pickled cucumber in this dish. Now that I’ve finally made it, I can confirm it’s a simple yet incredibly satisfying snack with a delightful crispy and refreshing texture. Shall we get started?
Main Ingredients- 1 cucumber
- 1 slice of bread
- 4 Tbsp cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp pollack roe (mentaiko)
- 10g butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
Optional Ingredients (For Extra Flavor)- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, gather all the ingredients for your open toast. Having everything ready makes the cooking process much smoother and more enjoyable.
Step 2
Wash the cucumber thoroughly. You can use a little salt to gently scrub the skin, which helps to remove any bitterness and ensure it’s perfectly clean.
Step 3
Trim off the ends of the cucumber. Then, use a peeler to thinly shave the cucumber lengthwise, avoiding the seedy core. You can insert a fork into one end to help you get thin, consistent slices. Shaving it thinly ensures a tender texture and allows it to absorb flavors better.
Step 4
Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of salt evenly over the thinly shaved cucumber slices and let them sit for about 5 minutes. This process, called ‘pickling,’ draws out excess moisture and gives the cucumber a delightful crispness.
Step 5
Prepare the pollack roe. Make a small slit along the membrane of the pollack roe sack. Then, gently scrape out the flavorful roe with the back of a knife, discarding the membrane. This will give you the delicious, slightly salty roe to mix into your spread.
Step 6
In a small bowl, combine the 4 tablespoons of cream cheese with the 2 tablespoons of prepared pollack roe. Mix them together thoroughly with a spoon or spatula until well combined and smooth. This creates a wonderfully creamy and savory spread.
Step 7
Once the cucumber slices are tender and pliable from the salting, gently squeeze out any excess water. To maintain their shape, you can stack the pickled cucumber slices neatly, roll them up like a cigar, and then gently squeeze. This helps to remove moisture without breaking the slices.
Step 8
Melt 10g of butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Place the slice of bread in the pan and toast it until it’s golden brown and slightly crispy on both sides. The butter adds a lovely richness and aroma.
Step 9
Spread a generous layer of the pollack roe cream cheese mixture onto the warm, toasted bread. Then, artfully arrange the drained cucumber slices on top of the spread.
Step 10
On the TV show, Jeon Hyun-moo piled on a lot of cucumber! You can choose to use the entire cucumber if you love cucumber, or use a more moderate amount. Feel free to adjust it to your liking!
Step 11
Finally, transfer your delicious open toast to a serving plate. Sprinkle with a pinch of ground black pepper, if desired. For an extra touch of flavor and elegance, drizzle about 1 tablespoon of high-quality extra virgin olive oil over the top. (Please ensure you use a food-grade olive oil with a clear origin and acidity below 0.8%.) Enjoy the delightful contrast between the cool, crisp cucumber and the rich, savory pollack roe cream cheese. It’s a truly wonderful open toast!
