Min Jin Lee’s Smashed Cucumber Salad

“At the kitchen table… it’s a place of repair. It’s a place of respite. It’s a place of recognition.” — Min Jin Lee

Season 3 of Your Mama’s Kitchen is here. 🍽️ And we’re opening the season with bestselling author Min Jin Lee.

The kitchen is where we feed each other, but it’s also where so many family dynamics play out — love and tension, pride and disappointment, power and vulnerability.

Min Jin remembers her mother trying to make bulgogi in their new American kitchen—and accidentally using corned beef. It’s funny now. It wasn’t then. A ruined meal became a story about money, immigration and pride—and what it feels like to suddenly lose your confidence, even in your own kitchen.

Years later, her mother can tell that same story and laugh. And maybe that’s part of what Min Jin means when she calls the kitchen table a place of repair.

In this beautiful conversation, Min Jin and Michele talk about family, migration, memory, identity, the complicated dynamics that play out around the table—and Min Jin’s new book, American Hagwon.

And because this is Your Mama’s Kitchen, she left us something to make, too.

🥒MIN JIN LEE’S SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD

Let us know when the comments.

Your Mama’s Kitchen is produced by the dream team at Acast Media.🎙️

Check out this episode of Your Mama’s Kitchen now on YT and wherever you find your podcasts. 🎧

Listen, and as always, let us know whatcha think!

Ingredients

Ingredients (serves 4)

6 Persian cucumbers (or 5-6 kirby cucumbers), washed well

3 stalks of scallions, finely chopped

2 tsp of finely chopped garlic

1 teaspoon Korean hot pepper flakes (gochugaru), ½ tsp of Italian red pepper flakes, or 1 tablespoon of chili crunch

2 tablespoons of sesame oil

2 tablespoons of rice vinegar, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)

1 teaspoon mirin (optional)

1 tablespoon of salt

STEPS:

STEP 1

Slice the cucumbers into slices (1/2”).

STEP 2

Put the cucumber into a large bowl. Add salt, mix well, and wait for 30 minutes. Rinse well and squeeze the cucumbers until almost dry.

STEP 3

Add the scallion, garlic, soy sauce, hot pepper flakes, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and mirin. Add salt as needed.

STEP 4

Serve as a side dish with rice, or any protein entrée.

Kitchen Crew Notes‍ ‍
 

COMING SOON!!!