Stir-fried Cucumbers (Oi Bokkeum)

Ingredients

• 1 pound cucumbers (about 4 to 5 short varieties such as Kirby or Persian or 1 English cucumber)
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon oil for stir-frying
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 small scallion (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds (preferably crushed)

Instructions

1. 1

   Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise, and then thinly slice crosswise slightly diagonally. If the cucumbers are thin, you can simply cut into thin rounds.

2. 2

   Lightly salt the cucumber slices with salt to coat evenly. Let sit for about 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Tightly squeeze out the water content from the salted cucumber slices. Don’t worry about bruising them. They will bounce back when stir-fried.

4. 4

   Heat a pan over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Quickly stir in the garlic. Add the cucumbers. Stir-fry for a minute until the cucumbers are slightly cooked. Do not overcook. Turn off the heat. Toss well with the scallion, sesame oil, and sesame seeds.