Cold cucumber soup side dish

Are you looking for something refreshing, light, healthy, and cold cold cold? Yes, how about a cold cucumber side dish? In Korean it’s called oi-naengguk and it’s perfect for summer! The thin cucumber matchsticks soaked in icy cold, sweet, sour, salty, and garlicky brine will please your appetite. The cold temperature is a nice surprise and the crispy but soft texture of the cucumber is wonderful.

A great thing about this side dish is that you can make it in 5 minutes, and you don’t need to cook anything at all. Just cut the ingredients and mix.

Make this in the summer time, and I guarantee everyone will love it. My cookbook co-writer, Lauren, learned how to make this when she was recipe testing, and got a ton of stars from her family when she served it. They are all fans of oi-naengguk now, and when the book was done Lauren told me it’s one of her favorite Korean dishes. I was surprised!

I originally posted an oi-naengguk video years ago, but this one is a little updated and is a vegetarian version, and the video is HD. If you’re looking for the old one, it’s still here.

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 1 large English cucumber (12 ounces) or 2 to 3 kirby cucumbers, chilled
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh red chili pepper (optional)
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 4 teaspoons vinegar
• 5-6 cherry tomatoes, sliced (optional)
• 1 cup cold water
• 7-8 ice cubes (1 cup)
• 1- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, ground

Directions:

1. Cut the cucumber into 3 inch long thin matchsticks and put them into a chilled mixing bowl.
2. Add garlic, green onion, and red chili pepper (if used).
3. Add the salt, soy sauce, sugar, and vinegar. Mix well, gently with a spoon until the salt and sugar are well dissolved.
4. Add the water,  ice cubes, and the sliced tomato (if you use), and gently mix with a spoon.
5. Put the sesame seeds powder on top, scoop out 4 portions into individual bowls, and serve right away with rice.