Crispy and Delicious Soy Sauce Cucumber Salad
Appetizingly Sweet and Sour! Try this Easy Soy Sauce Cucumber Salad Recipe (Ok-Jubu Style)
If you usually enjoy cucumber salad made with gochujang (red chili paste), why not try a different approach today with soy sauce and fish sauce? Inspired by the Ok-Jubu recipe, this version offers a clean, refreshing taste that highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients, rather than the spiciness of gochujang. The perfect balance of plum extract and vinegar adds a delightful sweet and sour tang, ensuring a satisfyingly crisp texture. Make this fantastic side dish right now!
Main Ingredients- 2 fresh cucumbers
- 1/2 sweet onion
Seasoning Ingredients- 3 Tbsp red chili powder (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce (myeolchi aekjeot)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of sesame seeds
- 3 Tbsp red chili powder (gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce (myeolchi aekjeot)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rub the 2 cucumbers with coarse salt to clean them thoroughly. This helps remove impurities and ensures a crispy texture. Rinse them under running water, then slice them into bite-sized pieces, about 1 cm thick.
Step 2
Peel and rinse the half onion. Slice it thinly into strips and place it in a large bowl where you will mix the salad. Adding the onion early allows it to absorb the flavors of the dressing.
Step 3
Now it’s time to add the seasonings that will define your cucumber salad. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of red chili powder over the onion and cucumber in the bowl to add color and a mild spiciness. Using fine-textured gochugaru will result in a smoother taste.
Step 4
Next, add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce for a deeper flavor. Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang) is generally preferred for this type of salad over soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang).
Step 5
Add 2 tablespoons of anchovy sauce to enhance the savory taste. The saltiness can vary depending on the brand of anchovy sauce, so it’s a good idea to taste and adjust if needed.
Step 6
Add 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic to further enrich the flavor of the cucumber salad. If you prefer a less intense garlic flavor, you can reduce the amount slightly.
Step 7
To achieve a balanced sweet and sour taste, add 2 tablespoons of plum extract and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. If plum extract is unavailable, you can substitute it with sugar, but plum extract adds a unique depth of sweetness and aroma.
Step 8
Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil for a nutty aroma and sprinkle a pinch of sesame seeds on top. Gently toss everything together with your hands to ensure the seasonings coat the cucumbers evenly. Be careful not to mix too vigorously, as this can make the cucumbers mushy.
Step 9
This soy sauce and fish sauce-based cucumber salad is complete! It’s refreshingly clean, perfectly balanced with the sweet and sour notes from the plum extract and vinegar, and delightfully crisp. Enjoy this versatile cucumber salad as a perfect side dish or a light snack! ^^
