We all know the feeling. You’re scrolling through your feed, minding your own business, when suddenly you see it. A video that stops you in your tracks and makes you think, “What the heck is that?” For me, that viral video was of a woman making a cucumber salad using a traditional Chinese technique of chopping the cucumbers. I was intrigued and had to try it for myself. But, I decided to make it my own way: Korean-style. And let me tell you, this salad is delicious! It’s also super easy to make, which might be part of the reason why it went viral on TikTok in the first place. If you’re looking for a fun and new way to enjoy cucumber salad, then this viral Korean cucumber salad is definitely for you!
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What is TikTok and how did this cucumber salad go viral on it?
TikTok is a social media platform that specializes in short-form content, usually within 15-60 seconds. Due to our ever-shortening attention spans, we all value high quality content in shorter amounts of time. Only intriguing, funny, and entertaining videos tend to go viral on this platform. Hence, this cucumber salad probably went viral on TikTok due to its extremely simple recipe and funny cucumber shape.
The recipe for the viral Korean Cucumber Salad – simple and easy to follow
I changed the recipe up to suit my needs and tastebuds (I made it Korean-style). In other words, this salad is also known as “Oi Muchim” in Korean. It is a very popular Korean side dish that pairs well with any and all entrees and can be enjoyed in all four seasons of the year. What I love about this recipe is that you only need a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge or pantry.
Ingredients:
- 1 long cucumber (or 2 medium cucumbers)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 green onions
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- generous pinch of gochugaru
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- 1 tsp fish sauce (optional)
Step-By-Step Tutorial on how to make it:
Instructions:
1. First, lay the chopsticks on a flat surface (chopping board) and place the cucumber in between the two chopsticks. Chop the cucumber using the traditional Chinese method. Chop straight down first (not all the way to the bottom.. only until hitting the chopstick). Go all the way across, then flip it over to the other side and chop at a 45 degree angle all the way across). It should result in a slinky-like cucumber shape.
2. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, green onions, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, garlic, gochugaru, sugar, and fish sauce.
3. Pour the sauce onto the sliced cucumber and rub it in to coat well. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Why people are loving this salad
People are loving this viral korean cucumber salad for all the right reasons! It’s healthy, flavorful, and easy to make – everything you could want in a salad. Plus, it’s fun to chop the cucumbers in the traditional Chinese style (sorta like this recipe by Christie).
If you’re looking for a delicious and unique salad to try, this is definitely it. You’ll see why it’s been so popular on TikTok. Give it a try today!
How you can make this salad for your next potluck or party
This viral korean cucumber salad is a great way to add some excitement to your next potluck or party. This dish is super simple to make and only requires a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
If you’re looking for a nice, easy and quick side dish to complement your other entrees at your next potluck, then this is perfect for you. The best part about this salad is that it can be made ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about last minute preparations.
Other Variations to the Viral Korean Cucumber Salad Recipe
If you want to add a little bit of spice to your salad, you can try adding some gochujang (Korean chili paste) to the dressing. If you want to make the salad a little bit more filling, you can add some diced chicken (cooked) or tofu to it. And if you’re looking for a vegan option, you can simply omit the fish sauce.
There are so many different ways that you can make this viral korean cucumber salad, so feel free to experiment and be wacky with it. Find the perfect combination that works for you and your family/friends.
So there you have it, the viral Korean cucumber salad that is blowing up TikTok. It’s simple to make, healthy, and flavorful. If you want to give it a try for your next potluck or party, here is the recipe. Otherwise, feel free to experiment with the ingredients to come up with your own variation of this tasty dish. Would you try this salad? Let me know in the comments below.
Make sure to check out my other YangYummm favorites:
INGREDIENTS:
Cucumbers – For this recipe, I used a nice long seedless cucumber. But you may use whichever cucumbers you love (I usually use Kirby cucumbers on a regular basis for my Oi Muchim).
Soy Sauce – Provides a nice, rich and salty flavor.
Rice Vinegar – For some acidity
Sesame Oil – For some added fatty and toasty flavor. It’s very common to include sesame oil in Korean cuisine (Note: not all sesame oils are created equal. Get yourself a high quality one!)
Sesame seeds – for a mild, sweet and nutty flavor
Gochugaru – For the extra kick and peppery flavor
Sugar – (OPTIONAL) I like to add a bit of sweetness to the sauce
Fish Sauce – (OPTIONAL) For some nice umami flavor
Green Onions/Scallions – For added freshness and flavor
Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim)
Equipment
- 1 Chef's Knife
- 1 Pair of Chopsticks
- 1 mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 long cucumber, sliced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar (may substitute with apple cider or white vinegar)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil (skip if allergic)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (skip if allergic)
- 2 stalks scallions, finely chopped
- Generous pinch of gochugaru
- 1 tsp sugar (OPTIONAL)
- 1 tsp fish sauce (OPTIONAL)
Instructions
- First, lay the chopsticks on a flat surface (chopping board) and place the cucumber in between the two chopsticks. Chop the cucumber using the traditional Chinese method. Chop straight down first (not all the way to the bottom.. only until hitting the chopstick). Chop all the way across, then flip it over to the other side and chop at a 45 degree angle all the way across). It should result in a slinky-like cucumber shape.
- In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, chopped green onions, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, crushed/minced garlic, gochugaru, sugar, and fish sauce.
- Pour the sauce onto the sliced cucumber and rub it in to coat well. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!
