Crispy and Sweet-Sour Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
Crispy and Sweet-Sour Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
Quick & Easy Crispy Cucumber Salad: A Delicious Side Dish Even Kids Love!
Introducing a simple and delicious sweet-and-sour cucumber salad (Oi Muchim) made with fresh, in-season cucumbers. Cucumbers are an affordable ingredient that offers both great taste and health benefits. While always present on our tables, we often overlook the wonderful qualities of this versatile vegetable. This dish features the natural crispness and coolness of cucumbers, enhanced by a zesty, sweet, and sour dressing, making it a perfect side dish or accompaniment to meals. Cucumbers, with their high water content and abundant vitamins, are also beneficial for skin health, making them a beloved ingredient. Let’s create a delicious cucumber salad with this budget-friendly favorite!
Main Ingredients- 3 cucumbers
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt (or regular salt)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s make a delicious cucumber salad using fresh, seasonal cucumbers. Cucumbers are an affordable and versatile ingredient that’s great for cooking. First, thoroughly wash the cucumbers by gently rubbing them with coarse sea salt (or regular salt if you don’t have coarse salt). This helps remove any residue or dirt from the cucumber skin.
Step 2
It’s best to slice the cucumbers as thinly as possible. Thin slices allow the cucumbers to pickle faster and make it much easier to squeeze out the excess water later. Thick slices take longer to pickle and don’t release water as well, which can lead to a mushy texture.
Step 3
After slicing the cucumbers thinly, add 1 Tbsp of coarse sea salt and mix well. Let them sit for about 10 minutes to pickle. A helpful tip here: It’s preferable to use coarse sea salt. Fine salt dissolves quickly and can make the cucumbers too salty or mushy if not used carefully. Coarse sea salt’s larger crystals help draw out moisture more effectively without over-salting.
Step 4
After about 10 minutes, you’ll see a good amount of water has been released from the cucumbers. Now, it’s crucial to squeeze out this excess water to achieve a crispy cucumber salad. Too much water will dilute the flavor and result in a soft, unappealing texture.
Step 5
There are two main ways to squeeze the water out of the cucumbers. For a cleaner result, you can place the sliced cucumbers in a clean cheesecloth or kitchen towel and twist to wring out the liquid. However, if you’ve sliced the cucumbers thinly, gently squeezing them by hand should be sufficient to remove most of the water. As cucumbers are over 90% water, you’ll be surprised by how much liquid comes out!
Step 6
Now it’s time to season the squeezed cucumbers. Add 1 Tbsp of sugar, 2 Tbsp of vinegar, 1/2 Tbsp of minced garlic, 1 Tbsp of sesame oil, and 2 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds or sesame powder for a nutty aroma. These are the base seasonings, but the most important thing is to adjust them to your taste! If you prefer a tangier flavor, add a little more vinegar. If you like it sweeter, add more sugar. Finally, taste the cucumbers and add salt as needed, considering the saltiness from the pickling process. Mix everything together gently.
Step 7
Voila! Your crispy, chewy, and refreshingly sweet-and-sour cucumber salad is ready. Doesn’t it look perfectly crisp and inviting? This cucumber salad is irresistibly delicious and a true ‘rice thief’ – you’ll find yourself wanting more with every bite. And the best part? Even children who are usually picky eaters tend to love this, making it a fantastic dish for the whole family.
Step 8
The combination of sweet and sour flavors with a refreshing coolness is truly delightful. While it’s delicious served immediately, chilling it in the refrigerator for a while will enhance its crispness and make it even more invigorating, especially on a warm day. It’s a perfect summer side dish.
Step 9
The satisfying ‘crunch’ with every bite of this cucumber salad offers an exceptional texture. The crispness and flavor are so good, it feels like all the day’s stress melts away. With this tasty cucumber salad alone, you can easily finish a bowl of rice!
Step 10
Topping warm rice with this crunchy and slightly sweet cucumber salad creates a wonderful harmony. The cool, refreshing taste of the cucumber fills your mouth, instantly chasing away fatigue and sluggishness from the day. It feels like every cell in your body awakens with a burst of freshness. This cucumber salad is especially popular with children. Instead of the usual spicy chili powder version, why not try this clean and refreshing flavor today?
