Crispy and Refreshing Cucumber and Lettuce Salad (Oi Sangchu Muchim)
Easy Recipe for Cucumber and Lettuce Salad: Delicious Dressing and Preparation Tips
Transform leftover lettuce and cucumbers into a wonderfully crisp and refreshing salad (muchim) that will awaken your taste buds! Adding cucumbers to a simple lettuce salad creates a delightful combination of textures and flavors. This dish is perfect as a vibrant side dish and is a fantastic, budget-friendly recipe that anyone can easily make. It’s an ideal way to enjoy fresh vegetables during the warmer months.
Main Ingredients
- 1 fresh cucumber
- 100g soft lettuce
- 1/4 sweet onion
- 2 Tbsp chopped scallions (green onions)
Flavorful Dressing
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Jin Ganjang (Korean soy sauce for soup)
- 0.5 Tbsp unrefined sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.3 Tbsp fine salt
- 1 Tbsp anchovy sauce (or fish sauce)
- 0.7 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 0.7 Tbsp sesame oil
For Washing Lettuce
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Jin Ganjang (Korean soy sauce for soup)
- 0.5 Tbsp unrefined sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.3 Tbsp fine salt
- 1 Tbsp anchovy sauce (or fish sauce)
- 0.7 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 0.7 Tbsp sesame oil
For Washing Lettuce
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
This recipe is for ‘Oi Sangchu Muchim,’ a delightful cucumber and lettuce salad. While lettuce salad alone is delicious, adding crisp cucumbers elevates the dish with even more refreshing crunch and flavor. It’s a fantastic way to use up vegetables that might otherwise go to waste, especially during warmer seasons. Even if fresh produce is expensive, this recipe allows you to create a satisfying side dish with ingredients you likely have on hand.
Step 2
Wash the lettuce thoroughly. In a bowl of water, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar and soak the lettuce for about 10 minutes. This helps maintain its freshness and rinse away any lingering impurities. (Tip: After soaking, rinse the lettuce under cold running water.)
Step 3
Prepare your vegetables. Wash the cucumber and slice it thinly into rounds. Peel the onion and slice it into thin strips. Gently pat the soaked lettuce dry and cut it into bite-sized pieces (about 3-4 cm). Cutting the vegetables to similar sizes ensures even seasoning and makes the salad easier to eat.
Step 4
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced cucumber and onion. Add 1 tablespoon of gochugaru and 1 tablespoon of Jin Ganjang. Gently toss to coat the vegetables; this initial step helps soften them slightly and absorb the flavors.
Step 5
Next, add 0.5 tablespoon of unrefined sugar and 0.3 tablespoon of fine salt. You can adjust the sweetness to your preference, and it’s best to add salt gradually while tasting. Stir in 1 tablespoon of anchovy sauce for an extra boost of umami.
Step 6
Add 0.5 tablespoon of minced garlic and the chopped scallions. Gently mix everything together with your hands. Be careful not to overmix or mash the vegetables, as you want to maintain their crisp texture.
Step 7
Finally, add the prepared lettuce. Lettuce is much more delicate than cucumbers and onions, so it’s best added at the end to prevent it from becoming mushy. After lightly mixing the cucumber and onion with the seasonings, add the lettuce. Drizzle in 0.7 tablespoon of sesame oil and sprinkle with 0.7 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds. Toss gently just until the lettuce is coated to preserve its fresh, crisp bite.
Step 8
And there you have it! A delicious ‘Oi Sangchu Muchim’ that’s savory, tangy, sweet, and wonderfully crisp. This salad is a feast for the eyes and the palate.
Step 9
Transfer the finished salad to a serving dish. Sprinkle a little more toasted sesame seeds on top for an appealing garnish. This is an excellent, budget-friendly side dish that’s perfect for stimulating your appetite on a warm day.
Step 10
Compared to a plain cucumber salad, the addition of lettuce makes this dish wonderfully soft yet refreshingly crisp. The contrast in textures is truly delightful!
Step 11
This ‘fridge-raid’ recipe, using up leftover ingredients, results in a fantastic Oi Sangchu Muchim! It’s a simple yet satisfying Korean side dish that perfectly complements any meal, offering great value and delicious flavor.
