Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi (Korean Marinated Cucumber Banchan)
From the Sides section of SkinnyAsia 2.
Fresh, crunchy and tangy, our Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi is a quick Korean-inspired cucumber side dish that takes just minutes to make.
Despite the name, this isn’t a traditional fermented kimchi. We’ve taken inspiration from Korean marinated cucumber banchan to create an easy version you can make while you’re getting the rest of dinner ready.
And if you’re making our Bulgogi Beef Burgers, don’t skip it. The cool, crunchy cucumber is the perfect contrast to the rich Bulgogi Beef Patties and creamy gochujang mayo.
What is Banchan?
Banchan are the small side dishes traditionally served alongside a Korean meal.
There can be all sorts of banchan on the table, including seasoned vegetables, pickles and kimchi. They’re designed to be shared and add different flavours and textures to the meal.
Our Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi gives you something cool, crunchy, tangy and slightly spicy to serve alongside richer Korean-inspired dishes.
What ingredients you will need
The complete recipe and quantities are in SkinnyAsia 2, but you only need a handful of ingredients:
- Lebanese cucumber
- Garlic
- Gochujang – gluten-free if required. You can buy gochujang with different heat levels mild through to extra spicy. The Woolworths one is spicier but gluten-free. The Coles one is milder.
- Rice wine vinegar
- Soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos
- Honey
- Sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Spring onion
How Spicy is Cucumber Kimchi?
Our version is not particularly spicy.
It uses a small amount of gochujang to add flavour and gentle heat rather than making the cucumber overwhelmingly hot.
Gochujang brands can vary quite a bit in heat – use a mild one if worried about spice.
What to Serve with Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi
This is an absolute must with our Bulgogi Beef Burgers, but there are plenty of other ways to serve it.
Try it with:
- Crispy Korean Chicken Pancake (Padak Jeon)
- Korean Corn Cheese
- Rosé Tteokbokki
- Bulgogi Beef Burgers
- Or as one of several banchan for a Korean-inspired feast
What is Gochujang Paste?
Gochujang is a Korean fermented chilli paste with a thick consistency and a savoury, slightly sweet and spicy flavour. It’s one of the key ingredients in Korean cooking and gives this Buttery Gochujang Chicken its signature flavour and colour.
Is Gochujang Spicy?
Yes, but the heat level can vary quite a bit between brands and varieties. Korean gochujang is often labelled with a heat level from mild through to very hot, so check the packaging when buying.
If you’re cooking for kids or prefer less heat, look for a mild gochujang. You can also reduce the amount used in the recipe to suit your taste. If you love spicy food, choose a hotter variety or add extra gochujang.
Keep in mind that gochujang isn’t just about chilli. It also adds sweetness, umami and that distinctive fermented flavour, so reducing it will slightly change the overall flavour of the sauce.
Where Can I Buy Gochujang?
Gochujang paste is becoming much easier to find in Australia. Look for it in the Asian or international foods aisle at major supermarkets, as well as Asian and Korean grocery stores. You can also buy it online.
The Gochujang Paste found in Coles is quite mild in flavour but isn’t gluten-free. The Gochujang Paste found in Woolworths is much hotter but is gluten-free.
Gochujang is traditionally sold in a red tub, but you’ll also find it in jars, bottles and squeeze packs depending on the brand.
Gluten-free tip: Not all gochujang is gluten-free, so always check the ingredients and allergen information if you need a gluten-free option.
Can I make my own Gochujang?
Absolutely! We have a guest recipe from Brooke to make your own dietary friendly Gochujang Paste.
Dietary & Recipe Variations
LOW CARB
Replace the honey with a compliant sweetener.
SUPER SKINNY
Omit the sesame oil if desired.
PALEO
Use our homemade Gochujang Paste from the website and replace the rice wine vinegar with apple cider vinegar.
LOW FODMAP
We’ve included alternatives for the honey, gochujang and garlic, and use only the green part of the spring onion.
HALVED / DOUBLED
This recipe can easily be halved or doubled.
How Long Does it Keep?
Store your Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi in the fridge for up to 2–3 days.
The cucumber will soften as it sits, so if you want maximum crunch, it’s best enjoyed fresh.
Get the Recipe
The complete Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi recipe, including exact quantities, Thermo cooker and conventional methods, serving suggestions and dietary variations, is available in SkinnyAsia 2.
From the Testing Team
- Angie G. – Tasted delicious, spicy but not overly
yum yum
- Veronica B. – Yum! So easy and delicious! Can’t wait to try this in the burgers
- Amanda E. – I could eat this whole bowl!! So glad I didn’t do half a serve
- Chantell L. – Great flavour in this dish would be perfect in summer
- Rita W. – I made this thinking that I would be the only one who liked it. I was planning to have some for dinner and the rest for lunch the next day. The kids got into it and said it was really good, could I make it a bit more spicy please and definitely make it again – daily would be good please. Who are these people who used to be spice wimps?
- Kylie W. – Love this. I will be adding this as a side to alot of dishes. Easy to prepare
- Kaz M. – Ive just about eaten all of this whilst waiting for the burgers to cook! YUM!! My kids are especially going to love this
- Leia S. – Yum! Complemented the beef burger so well. I did only add 5g of Gochujang instead of 10g. Mr 19 said could have been spicier. We all enjoyed it. I think it was a good level of heat.
Some other Thermomix cucumber recipes you might love:
Want to know more about SkinnyAsia 2 cookbook?
SkinnyAsia 2 is a collection of Thermomix & Conventional cooking recipes. All of our cookbooks have a strong focus on Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free, Egg Free, Low Carb, Paleo, Vegetarian and Low FODMAP.
Ingredients
- gochujang paste
- honey
- rice wine vinegar
- salt
- sesame oil
- sesame seeds
- soy sauce
- garlic
- Lebanese cucumber
- spring onion
Instructions
- This recipe is exclusive to the SkinnyAsia 2 cookbook.
FAQs
Is Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi spicy?
Not really. It uses a small amount of gochujang for flavour and gentle heat, and you can choose a milder gochujang if you’re cooking for the family.
Do I need to ferment Cheat’s Cucumber Kimchi?
No. This is a quick marinated cucumber banchan rather than traditional fermented kimchi. It’s ready in around 15 minutes and can be stored in the fridge for 2–3 days.