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Close-up of a cucumber salad topped with sesame seeds, green onions, and red chili flakes.

Spicy Cucumber Salad Recipe

This Spicy Cucumber Salad is packed with bold flavors! It's easy to make, and even though it takes 30 minutes, most of that time is draining. It's a perfect side for the holidays and gamedays or summer potlucks. It's always one of the first dishes to disappear at my family gatherings!
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Resting time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Korean
Keyword: easy, Gochugaru, korean salad, Quick, Summer, Tomato, onion, and cucumber salad
Servings: 4
Calories: 16kcal
Author: Mandy Applegate

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Thinly slice the cucumbers and toss them gently with salt, and set them aside for 25 - 30 minutes.
    1 teaspoon salt
  • Drain excess fluid, and gently toss with gochugaru, scallion, sugar, garlic, rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, and sesame oil, ensuring that the cucumbers are evenly coated. Serve and enjoy.
    2 Korean cucumbers, 1 tablespoon Gochugaru Korean red chili flakes, 1 scallion, ½ teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Notes

  • Cucumbers: Korean cucumbers are ideal for this recipe due to their thin skin and crisp texture. If you can’t find them, any thin-skinned cucumber, like Persian or English cucumbers, will work.
  • Gochugaru: These Korean red chili flakes add a unique flavor and heat. Adjust the amount to suit your spice preference.
  • Uniform Slices: Use a mandoline slicer for even, thin cucumber slices. This ensures that all pieces absorb the flavors equally.
  • Mixing: Combine the dressing ingredients separately before tossing them with the cucumbers to ensure even coating.
  • Resting Time: Letting the salad sit for an extra 10 minutes after mixing allows the flavors to meld together, enhancing the taste.
  • Customization: Feel free to add other veggies like thinly sliced radishes or carrots for added color and crunch.

Nutrition

Calories: 16kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 590mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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