Crisp and Refreshing Cucumber and Onion Salad
Super Simple Cucumber Side Dish: Quick 5-Minute Cucumber and Onion Salad Recipe
Introducing a super simple cucumber and onion salad recipe that takes just 5 minutes to make, apart from the time needed to salt the cucumbers! When you’re short on time or side dishes, whip this up quickly to liven up your meal. The crisp cucumbers, sweet onions, and a zesty, spicy dressing create a flavor explosion that will have you reaching for more rice.
Main Ingredients- 1 cucumber
- 1/2 onion
- 0.5 Tbsp salt (for salting cucumbers)
Spicy and Tangy Dressing- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp double-strength vinegar
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp double-strength vinegar
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the cucumber thoroughly. Using a crinkle cutter or a regular knife, slice it thinly into rounds about 0.3 cm thick. Using a crinkle cutter will give it a more appealing texture.
Step 2
In a bowl, sprinkle the sliced cucumbers with 0.5 Tbsp of salt and gently mix. Let it sit for about 15 minutes to allow the cucumbers to soften slightly and release their water. This step helps maintain their crispness.
Step 3
Slice the onion into thin strips, roughly the same size or slightly thicker than the cucumber slices. Be careful not to slice them too thinly, or they might become too soft when mixed.
Step 4
In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, gochugaru, double-strength vinegar, soy sauce, and plum extract. Stir well with a spoon to create the dressing. Letting it sit for a moment allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 5
Rinse the salted cucumbers lightly under running water to remove excess salt, then squeeze out as much water as possible with your hands. This ensures the salad doesn’t become watery and absorbs the dressing well. Place the squeezed cucumbers and the sliced onions into a mixing bowl.
Step 6
Pour all of the prepared dressing over the cucumbers and onions in the bowl.
Step 7
Gently mix everything together with your hands until the dressing evenly coats the cucumbers and onions. Be careful not to mash the ingredients; handle them gently.
Step 8
Finally, add 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds for extra aroma and flavor.
Step 9
Give it one final gentle toss to combine everything. Your crisp and delicious cucumber and onion salad is ready! It’s great served immediately, or you can chill it in the refrigerator for an even more refreshing treat.
