Description
A refreshing and flavorful Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad featuring spiral-cut mini cucumbers tossed in a tangy, savory dressing with hints of sesame, garlic, and chili oil for a perfect balance of spice and crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 6 mini cucumbers
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed or grated
Seasonings & Sauces
- 1 tbsp of salt
- ¾ tbsp of brown sugar
- 1 tsp of sesame oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 tbsp of rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp of sesame seeds
- 2 tsp of chili oil (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare cucumbers: Cut off the ends of the mini cucumbers. Place two chopsticks on either side of a cucumber as guides, then slice diagonally into thin pieces. Flip and repeat to create spiral-shaped cucumber slices. Repeat for all cucumbers.
- Salt cucumbers: Transfer cucumber slices to a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Toss well and let them sit for 15 to 30 minutes to draw out excess water and enhance crunchiness.
- Rinse and dry: After resting, rinse cucumber slices under cold water to remove excess salt, then drain thoroughly. Pat dry using paper towels or a clean cloth.
- Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, crushed garlic, chili oil (if using), and sesame seeds to create the dressing.
- Toss salad: Pour the dressing over the cucumber slices and toss well to evenly coat all pieces with the flavorful dressing.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped green onions on top for garnish. Serve immediately to enjoy a cool, crisp, and spicy salad.
Notes
- Chili oil is optional; adjust according to your preferred spice level.
- Using mini cucumbers ensures a crisp texture; regular cucumbers can be used but may require more salting time.
- Allowing cucumbers to rest with salt draws out moisture and avoids a soggy salad.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, cucumber salad, Asian salad, sesame dressing, healthy salad, quick salad, no cook salad
