Cucumber Kimchi (Oi Gimchi)

A spicy and tangy Korean pickled cucumber dish made with fresh cucumbers, garlic, and Korean chile powder. This traditional kimchi variation ferments for several days to develop its characteristic sour and savory flavors.

6 servings

72 hr 35 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•10 whole pickling cucumbers
•⅓ cup table salt
•4⅓ cups water
•6 cloves garlic
•½ whole onion
•½ bunch Korean leeks
•5 whole green onions
•¼ cup Korean chile powder
•1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
•1 teaspoon sugar

Cooking Instructions

1.
Cut the cucumbers lengthwise into quarters and place in a large bowl. Dissolve the table salt in 4 cups of the water and pour over the cucumbers. Soak the cucumbers for about 20 minutes.
20 min
2.
Combine the garlic, onion, Korean leeks, green onions, chile powder, and sea salt in another large bowl.
5 min
3.
Remove the cucumbers from the salt water and rinse. Add the cucumbers to the spicy mixture and mix until the cucumbers are all well coated. Stuff the cucumbers into a 1/2-gallon glass jar, pressing firmly until filled.
10 min
4.
Dissolve the sugar in the remaining 1/3 cup water and pour over the cucumbers. Cover tightly. Let sit in a cool, dark place for 2 to 3 days before opening to see if it's ripe. The cucumbers should be sour and have absorbed the salt and flavors of the seasoning. Refrigerate after opening. It will keep for almost 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
4320 min

Cooking Instructions

Cut the cucumbers lengthwise into quarters and place in a large bowl. Dissolve the table salt in 4 cups of the water and pour over the cucumbers. Soak the cucumbers for about 20 minutes.

20 min

Combine the garlic, onion, Korean leeks, green onions, chile powder, and sea salt in another large bowl.

5 min

Remove the cucumbers from the salt water and rinse. Add the cucumbers to the spicy mixture and mix until the cucumbers are all well coated. Stuff the cucumbers into a 1/2-gallon glass jar, pressing firmly until filled.

10 min

Dissolve the sugar in the remaining 1/3 cup water and pour over the cucumbers. Cover tightly. Let sit in a cool, dark place for 2 to 3 days before opening to see if it's ripe. The cucumbers should be sour and have absorbed the salt and flavors of the seasoning. Refrigerate after opening. It will keep for almost 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

4320 min