373 – Korean Cucumber Kimchi (Oi-Sobaegi) / خيار كيمتشي الكوري

Ingredients :

MAIN INGREDIENTS:

• 4 long cucumbers
• 2 tablespoons sea salt (or rock salt)

STUFFING INGREDIENTS:

• A large bunch of garlic chives (buchu)
• 1/2 onion
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1 small carrot (or 1/2 large carrot)
• 2 large garlic cloves
• A small piece of fresh ginger

SEASONING INGREDIENTS:

• 1/3 cup Korean red chili flakes (or a mix of paprika and cayenne pepper)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon of sugar

Directions :

Step 1 – Preparing the Cucumbers: 
1- Slice off the ends of the cucumbers. Cut the cucumbers into 7 cm / 3″ pieces. Place the cucumber piece on one end, then cut in half down length without cutting through; rotate, and cut, perpendicular, down length, creating a cross.
2- Place the cucumber pieces in a large bowl and add the sea salt. You can also use rock sold, but do NOT use regular fine salt.
3- Pour boiling water over the cucumber and sea salt, until all cucumbers are covered.
4- Let the cucumber rest for 30 minutes in the boiling water before stuffing it.

Step 2 – Preparing the Stuffing: 
1-  While waiting for the cucumbers to brine, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Slice the chives into 3 cm / 1″ long pieces
2- Thinly slice the half onion. Cut the the half red bell pepper into thin sticks (Julienne).
3- Peel the carrot then grate it using the large holes of the grater.
4- Grate the garlic cloves and peeled fresh ginger using the small holes of the grater.
5- Place all these ingredients in one large bowl.

Step 3 – Marinating the Stuffing: 
1- Add the Korean red chili flakes to the vegetables.
Note: if you dont have Korean red chili flakes, you can use a mix of paprika and cayenne pepper.
2- Add the sugar and fish sauce.
Note: if you dont have fish sauce, you can use a can of sardines in water. Puree a little bit of the sardine meat with the sauce in the can and use as a susbsitute.
3- Using plastic gloves, mix well the seasoning with the vegetables with your hands until all ingredients are well incorporated. Taste and adjust the seasoning accordingly.

Step 4 – Stuffing the Cucumbers: 
1- Drain the cucumbers from the water.
2- Open each cucumber piece and stuff it with the seasoned vegetables.
3- Place the stuffed cucumbers in a container with a lid. Rub the surface of the cucumbers with the rest of the seasoned vegetables.
4- Place the stuffed cucumbers over your counter and let them ferment for at least 1 hour, preferable 3-5 hours to ferment.
5- Serve on a plate as a side dish!
Note: you can keep these cucumbers in the fridge for 2-3 days.