How To Make TikTok's Easy And Viral Cucumber Salad
Between outdoor grilling and fried food from state fairs, it can be easy to get bogged down in heavy, meat-centric meals like burgers and seasoned hot dogs during the summer. While a delight to eat, it can make you crave a refreshing salad after a while. If this sounds familiar, you may want to take some inspiration from one of TikTok's latest viral sensations featuring a simple cucumber salad you can whip up in only a few minutes.
@logagm Easiest way to make an entire cucumber
The video, posted by TikTok user @logagm, has accumulated nearly half a million likes so far and has people in the comment section raving about how enticing the salad looks. From "I've never craved cucumbers like this in my life" to "[this is the] only reason I eat cucumbers now," the majority of viewers were decidedly enthusiastic about the combination the poster put together. Aside from being delicious, the convenient way the salad is constructed has its own appeal.
The poster is known for creating videos centered around cucumbers, and they typically use a mandolin to cut them up. This is the most conducive way to slice a whole cucumber, but if you don't have one, using a knife to cut them by hand doesn't take that much longer. Completing the salad just requires adding the rest of the ingredients to a deli container and giving it a vigorous shake. However, some were curious about where they might find one of the key ingredients.
Kimchi can sometimes be hard to find for the salad
It's mentioned in the video that the kimchi was store-bought, and this resulted in some commenters asking what brand of kimchi the poster used and where they could find it. (Our best guess based on the packaging is Tobagi Country-Style Kimchi). You can usually find this in the refrigerated produce section in the supermarket, though grocery stores strategically change their layouts occasionally and it might end up being near the refrigerated pickles and sauerkraut. However, judging from the comments, not everyone has been this lucky. Specialty Asian grocery stores will also typically carry kimchi, but if all else fails, check your local Asian restaurant or sushi bar. Many establishments make their own kimchi in-house, and some will be happy to sell you a portion on the side.
While you can make kimchi at home, it's a time-consuming process that would eliminate the simplicity of the salad. Dolloping some into a deli container after retrieving it from the fridge is about as convenient as it gets. Adding sesame seeds and oil is just as easy and including the "obvious" ingredient — MSG — is likewise uncomplicated. However, some in the comment section questioned why this particular element was added at all.
MSG has a bad rap, but it levels up the salad
Throughout the comments section, many wondered why MSG was included. Others offered advice to avoid it altogether, saying, "MSG causes cancer" and "Don't use MSG!" Not so long ago, the salty food additive was considered hazardous, and many still believe the myth that MSG should be avoided at all costs. This is now known to be false, and there are plenty of things you should know about MSG.
The umami MSG imparts to food amps up the flavor of the cucumber salad and would be noticeably missed if not included. It allows you to add an immense depth of flavor conveniently by simply sprinkling some into the deli container before shaking it up. Some folks say you should use MSG in every dish you make because of its ability to impact the overall flavor of the meal. If you plan on taking a few minutes to slice a cucumber and recreate this effortless salad, don't skimp on the ingredient.