Crispy Cucumber Kimchi (Oi Kkakdugi)
Super Simple! Summer Delicacy, Making Crispy Cucumber Kimchi
Introducing an easy-to-make cucumber kimchi recipe using fresh cucumbers. It has a wonderfully cool and refreshing taste, perfect as a side dish or a simple kimchi. Even kids will love it, so be sure to try making it!
Main Ingredients- 5 Korean cucumbers (Baek-oi)
- 2 Tbsp coarse sea salt
Seasoning Ingredients- 4 Tbsp anchovy sauce (Myeolchi aekjeot)
- 4 Tbsp red pepper flakes (Gochugaru)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 4 Tbsp anchovy sauce (Myeolchi aekjeot)
- 4 Tbsp red pepper flakes (Gochugaru)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash 5 Korean cucumbers thoroughly under running water. Trim the ends and cut them into bite-sized pieces, similar to how you would cut radish for Kkakdugi. Avoid cutting them too thin to maintain a good texture.
Step 2
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of coarse sea salt evenly over the cut cucumbers. Gently mix them to ensure the salt coats them well. Let them sit for about 20 minutes to wilt. Stir them once halfway through the salting process for even wilting.
Step 3
After 20 minutes, taste one piece of the salted cucumber. If it tastes too salty, rinse it lightly under cold water to remove excess salt and drain thoroughly in a colander. If it’s not too salty, you can skip the rinsing and simply drain it well in a colander. It’s important to drain the water thoroughly.
Step 4
Place the drained cucumbers in a bowl. Add all the prepared seasoning ingredients: 4 Tbsp anchovy sauce, 4 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 2 Tbsp sugar, and 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds.
Step 5
Mix everything thoroughly so the seasoning coats the cucumbers evenly. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add a little more salt if it’s not salty enough, or more sugar for extra sweetness.
Step 6
Now it’s time to mix the seasoned cucumbers well. Gently combine the well-drained cucumbers with the seasoning, ensuring everything is coated evenly. Be gentle to avoid crushing the cucumbers.
Step 7
Ta-da! Your simple yet incredibly crispy and delicious cucumber kimchi is ready. You can enjoy it right away, or store it in the refrigerator to serve chilled for an even more refreshing taste. It’s a perfect side dish that will make your meals more enjoyable!
