Asian Cucumber Salad is an easy, refreshing, and delicious salad recipe that’s simple to make. Prepared with fresh ingredients, this low-calorie salad is loaded with flavor.
Made with crunchy cucumbers and an Asian-style sweet, tangy, and mild dressing, it comes together in just 10 minutes.
Create a zesty spice rub with sumac to add Mediterranean flair to grilled or roasted veggies and tofu.
Table of contents
All you need to do is slice the cucumber into spirals, let them sit in salt, and finally toss them with a refreshing Asian-style garlicky dressing made with crushed garlic, sesame seeds, vinegar, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
This salad looks like a gourmet dish and delivers a burst of flavors and crunchy textures.
About Asian Cucumber Salad
Inspired by traditional Asian flavors, this crunchy and delicious Asian Cucumber Salad is very easy to make. Its simplicity makes it an ideal go-to lunch or snack recipe for busy days.
It’s perfect for those who love a mix of sweet, sour, and salty flavors. Another great thing about this salad is that you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your taste.
If you’re into easy and healthy salad recipes, or if you love cucumbers, this salad is for you. Made with refreshing ingredients like cucumbers, sesame seeds, and a tangy dressing, this salad has everything to make you fall in love with it.
This simple salad combines crisp cucumbers with a tangy dressing made of garlic, sesame seeds, rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, spring onion greens, and a touch of sugar. The salad is then topped with sesame seeds and chili flakes for an extra burst of flavor.
It’s ideal for a light lunch, dinner, or snack when you want something refreshingly good. This easy salad has everything you want in a salad – it’s light, crunchy, and packed with amazing flavors that will make your taste buds dance.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and delicious side dish or a healthy snack, this Asian Cucumber Salad is a wonderful option.
Why You will Love This Recipe
This Asian Cucumber Salad recipe
✔ is quick and easy to make
✔ is light, refreshing, and healthy
✔ is very versatile
✔ can be served as a side or snack
✔ has super delicious flavorsI
✔ is easy to customize
✔ is vegan and gluten-free
Ingredients for Asian Cucumber Salad
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Cucumbers: The main ingredient of the salad. Fresh cucumbers provide a lovely crunch while keeping it satisfying.
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Vinegar: Adds a tangy flavor that pairs amazingly well with crisp cucumbers.
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Soy Sauce: Contributes a salty, savory taste and umami flavors to the dressing.
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Sugar: A little bit of sugar balances the tang and spiciness.
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Sesame Oil: Often used in Asian recipes for a nutty, rich flavor.
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Sesame Seeds: These tiny seeds add a lovely crunch and a touch of nuttiness.
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Chili Oil: It is added for heat. So if you don’t like heat then you can skip adding chili oil.
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Garlic: Adds pungency and aromatic taste to the salad.
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Spring Onion: Cilantro or green onions add freshness and a pop of color to the salad.
Variations
Spicier Asian Cucumber Salad
If you love spicy food, add some sriracha or hot sauce.
Extra Crunch
For added crunch, include sliced onions, bell peppers, or radishes.
Added Protein
To make it more filling, add cubed tofu, shrimp, cooked chickpeas, or grilled chicken.
Nuts
For a nutty richness, add roasted salted peanuts or almonds.
Serving Suggestions
This Asian style cucumber salad is versatile and can be served in many ways. Enjoy it as a side dish with grilled meat, schezwan fried rice, roasted potatoes, or sushi. For a delicious lunch, pair it with steamed rice, pasta, or noodles.
It can also be enjoyed as a light, healthy snack any time of the day. This easy salad can also be used as a topping for wraps, sandwiches, tostadas, or even tacos.
Storage Suggestions
This Asian salad stays fresh for up to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator. If planning to store it, keep the cucumber and dressing separate because cucumbers release water and lose flavor. Add the dressing just before serving to keep them crisp.
Make-Ahead Cucumber Salad: If you’re making this salad in advance, slice the cucumber and prepare the dressing a day before, then store them in the fridge. When ready to serve, toss the cucumber slices with the dressing and enjoy the crispy, delicious salad.
Important Tips and Tricks to make Asian Cucumber Salad
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Slicing: You can prepare this salad using spiral-cut cucumbers, or thinly slice the cucumber with a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife.
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Salt: To reduce the wateriness of the cucumber, let the slices sit with salt for about 10 minutes, then rinse under running water to remove excess salt.
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Drain Cucumbers: For a less watery salad, lightly salt the cucumber slices and let them sit for a few minutes before draining off the excess liquid.
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Use Fresh Ingredients: Always use fresh herbs and quality ingredients for the best flavor.
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Flavoring: The dressing offers a sweet, tangy, and salty taste. Feel free to adjust the dressing according to your taste preferences.
Asian Cucumber Salad (Step-by-step photo instructions)
How to make Asian Cucumber Salad
- Take the rinsed cucumber and place it on a cutting board. Trim off the ends and slice the cucumber in half.
- Place two chopsticks on the cutting board, then place one cucumber half between the chopsticks to prevent cutting all the way through. Thinly slice the cucumber from the top side.
- Flip the cucumber and make diagonal cuts on the other side.
- Cut the cucumber in half again. Repeat with the remaining cucumbers. Alternatively, you can thinly slice the cucumbers.
- Transfer the sliced cucumber to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the cucumbers with salt and gently massage it in. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes. Be sure not to let them sit for more than 10 minutes to avoid over-softening.
- Rinse the cucumbers thoroughly with cold water 3-4 times to remove all the salt. Strain and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the soy sauce, minced garlic, sesame seeds, rice or white vinegar, sesame oil, and green onions. Add sugar and chili oil, and mix well.
Serving
- Place the prepared cucumbers on a serving plate. Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss gently to coat. Garnish with sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. Enjoy your fresh and delicious Asian cucumber salad!
Recipe Card
Asian Cucumber Salad [Recipe]
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 6 reviews)
| Prep time 🕐 | Cook time 🕐 | Total time 🕐 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mins | ||
| Category ☶ | Cuisine ♨ | Serves ☺ |
| Salads | Asian | 4 |
| Nutrition Info ⊛ | Serving size ⊚ | |
| 125 calories | 1 |
INGREDIENTS
For Asian Cucumber Salad
- 1 1/2 large cucumbers or Persian cucumbers
- 2 teaspoons salt (for draining water)
- Water for rinsing
For Dressing
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili oil
- 1 tablespoon brown or white sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons green onion, finely sliced
For Serving
- Sesame seeds
- Red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS:
How to make Asian Cucumber Salad
- Take the rinsed cucumber and place it on a cutting board. Trim off the ends and slice the cucumber in half.
- Place two chopsticks on the cutting board, then place one cucumber half between the chopsticks to prevent cutting all the way through. Thinly slice the cucumber from the top side.
- Flip the cucumber and make diagonal cuts on the other side.
- Cut the cucumber in half again. Repeat with the remaining cucumbers. Alternatively, you can thinly slice the cucumbers.
- Transfer the sliced cucumber to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the cucumbers with salt and gently massage it in. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes. Be sure not to let them sit for more than 10 minutes to avoid over-softening.
- Rinse the cucumbers thoroughly with cold water 3-4 times to remove all the salt. Strain and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the soy sauce, minced garlic, sesame seeds, rice or white vinegar, sesame oil, and green onions. Add sugar and chili oil, and mix well.
Serving
- Place the prepared cucumbers on a serving plate. Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss gently to coat. Garnish with sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. Enjoy your fresh and delicious Asian cucumber salad!
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NOTES:
- You can prepare this salad using spiral-cut cucumbers, or thinly slice the cucumber with a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife.
- Always use fresh cucumber and spring onions for the best flavor.
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Author: Anupama
Recipe Source Link: https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/asian-cucumber-salad/
