Monday 10 June 2019

Spicy Cucumber Banchan


The other day while watching some videos on Youtube, I was reminded of Maangchi when one of her videos popped up on my watch list. Hey! I love this Korean lady and there was a time when I tried her fried chicken but that was as far as I went. Fried chicken and only fried chicken.

Somehow this time I paid more attention to her other recipes and I discovered some pretty good and delicious banchan (side dishes).

Those of you who have eaten at Korean restaurants know that you are served with a myriad of refillable side dishes which are quite delicious. 


One of them is this cucumber side dish that I have eaten before and enjoyed very much. As it turns out, this side dish, known as Oi-muchim is so easy to make.

The ingredients are pretty basic and easy to get, maybe except for one, Korean hot pepper flakes.

I was so excited about this recipe that I went to Jaya Grocer specially to buy Korean hot pepper flakes. All the other ingredients I already have in my pantry.


There is a story about the hot pepper flakes. At the supermarket, I found two types - (1) For spicy cook(ing) and (2) for making kimchi, although both were labelled as red pepper powder. Apparently, the correct one is the one for making kimchi although we are not making kimchi with it. 

But I was quite naive and in my excitement and impatience, did not do any research and picked up the one for spicy cooking although I could see from the packaging that this one is powder-like whereas the one for making kimchi was coarser.

When I got back to office, something in my heart told me that  it wasn't right. So I consulted Maangchi's blog which I should have done earlier. So I went back to get the correct one.


That weekend, I made some Oi-muchim and oh my, it was va va voom! So delicious! So addictive! I couldn't stop eating.

I had it with some other dishes that I learnt from Maangchi.


This side dish should be prepared just before serving because as you know, cucumbers will bleed water after being mixed with seasonings. There were leftovers which I kept in the fridge and although it became watery, it was still good to eat.


If you like Korean food, perhaps you want to try this very easy and yet delicious side dish.

Korean Spicy Cucumber Side Dish (Oi-Muchim)
Recipe source : Adapted from Maangchi

Ingredients :
- 1 large Japanese cucumber or two smaller ones
- 1/2 small sized yellow onion, thinly sliced

- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (I used a garlic press)
- 2 tsp Korean hot pepper flakes
- 1 tsp sugar

- 1 stalk spring onion, sliced
- 2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted

Method :
1. Cut cucumber in half, lengthwise. Then slice diagonally into this slices.
2. In a mixing bowl add soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, hot pepper flakes and sugar. Mix well.
3. Then add the sliced cucumbers, onion, spring onion and sesame seeds. Mix all the ingredients together.
4. Serve immediately.

16 comments:

  1. I believe this dish would be prefect for those who love to eat spicy appetisers. You are so meticulous, you paid attention to details and you did know somehow you bought the wrong chilli flakes so you went back to buy the correct one. now you must cook some spicy korean dish with the finer "wrong" chilli flakes that you have bought, right?

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    1. I am sure I would be able to find something to do with the fine chili powder. Maybe I use it when making the next batch of this recipe, see if got any significant difference hee..hee...

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  2. I am not so crazy about Korean cuisine and definitely not this spicy side dish.Hehe.

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    1. I remembered you mentioned this before. LOL!

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  3. Do the Korean hot pepper flakes taste like kimchi? If it does, then I know it's not for me. The other dish of eggplant also seems to use the same seasoning, so my best bet would be the dish on the left...fried fish paste patties coated in egg? ;)

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    1. Oh no, not like kimchi at all hah...hah... Or else I would not have liked it as I am not a kimchi fan. In fact it is not even that spicy. The taste of this dish is salty, slightly sweetish with sesame oil aroma and the freshness of cucumbers. Those patties are beef patties coated with egg.

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  4. I am tempted to try but lazy to go looking for Korean chili flakes. I love spicy cucumber pickles.

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    1. I wonder if our regular chili flakes works. Let me experiment hee..hee...

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  5. You are so talented and make a good Korean Ajunma! Muahahahaha

    My Korean friend told me that it is easy to make the various Banchan. They just buy a certain popular Banchan ready-paste to toss & mix with any cut vegetables before sprinkling additional ingredients or flakes to boost the taste. When I am not lazy, I will post my trip to a Korean Restaurant in Busan where they served some 20 plates of Banchan!!!! Crazy to max!

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    1. heh..heh... Ajunma Hong! I am looking forwards to your post to see the banchan that you ate!

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  6. I think I had this before but I don't remember whether I liked it or not. :D

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    Replies
    1. I am guessing that you did not like it. hah..hah...

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  7. So much spicy But i will made it for my sister hubby because he loved spicy food. Thank you for sharing it.
    Sandy recent posted
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  8. I think it tasted more delicious if chilled, have you tried?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, when I ate the leftovers hah..hah...

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