Easy 5 Minute Asian Cucumber Salad

Name: Easy 5 Minute Asian Cucumber Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 3 medium-sized cucumbers (young, thin-skinned); 1 teaspoon tossed sesame seeds; 2 tablespoon roasted peanuts (crushed); 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro (coriander) (finely chopped); 2 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 2 tablespoon soy sauce; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 teaspoon cane sugar or sugar; ⅓ teaspoon red chili flakes (or to taste); ¼ teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)

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Sliced cucumbers are tossed in sweet, tangy, and spicy sesame dressing topped with roasted peanuts makes for a delicious side dish that everyone will love. It takes just 5 minutes to make and is vegan.

Simple and crunchy this cucumber salad is a delightful and refreshing dish that brings out the natural flavors of cucumbers. With its tangy dressing and crunchy texture, it is a perfect complement to a variety of meals or a light snack on its own.

This Asian cucumber salad with sesame dressing is one of my favorite summer side dishes to make. It is incredibly easy, light, crunchy and so refreshing. Full of Asian flavors. A perfect dish to make for parties, picnics, potlucks, or even summer grilling.

Making this salad is quite straightforward. Slice the cucumber, make the dressing, toss everything together and you are good to go.

What makes this dish so good is a tasty sesame dressing. It is packed full of flavor and a little heat from the chili flakes. You can adjust the sweet, tangy, and spicy element to your taste preference just by adjusting the amount.

Not only is this salad quick and easy to make, but it's also a total crowd-pleaser that'll have everyone looking for seconds.

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Ingredients You'll Need
Asian Cucumber Salad Preparations
Variations
What to serve with Crunchy Cucumber Salad?
FAQs
Recipe
Comments

Ingredients You'll Need

Ingredients to make Asian cucumber salad

Cucumber: cucumber is the main ingredient in this recipe. Use your favorite, making sure it's thin skinned and young for the best taste. English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers are good replacements;
Garlic: fresh garlic, minced;
Rice Vinegar: rice vinegar can be substituted with apple cider vinegar. Add more for extra tanginess;
Sesame oil: use either regular or toasted sesame oil;
Soy sauce: you can use tamari instead;
Red chili flakes: adds a nice spicy punch, you can also sub with chopped deseeded red chili;
Sugar: balances the flavor and makes the dressing even more irresistible. I used organic cane sugar. Granulated sugar or honey are nice alternatives;
Sesame seeds: adds that amazing Asian taste;
Peanuts: add a nice nuttiness and some crunch to the salad. For those who have peanut allergies, you can skip adding or use cashew nut or sunflower seeds instead;
Salt: sea salt to taste;
Cilantro(coriander): preferably fresh.

Asian Cucumber Salad Preparations

Prepare cucumber: Slice the cucumbers into slightly thick rounds. You can peel the cucumbers if you prefer that way.

Making the sesame dressing for Asian cucumber salad

Make the dressing: Put minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, cane sugar, salt, and red chili flakes in a small bowl. Whisk until sugar dissolves.
Toss cucumber with dressing: Pour the dressing over the sliced cucumbers and toss to coat. Finish it off by adding chopped cilantro, crushed peanuts and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Asian cucumber salad served in a white bowl

Variations

Like any other recipe, when making an Asian cucumber salad you can always change things up to suit your palate or use what you have available.

Here are some that I do from time to time

Add veggies: carrot, red pepper, snap peas, edamame, red onion, green onion
substitute minced garlic with minced or ground ginger
Substitute cilantro with parsley or mint leaves
Add lime juice
fish sauce for a non vegan version
Spice it up: add chilli oil for a little extra spice

What to serve with Crunchy Cucumber Salad?

This salad is a light yet satisfying snack on its own. For a full dinner, you can serve this as a side to barbecue, any grilled vegetable, meat, or fish dishes. It is also a great addition to Asian dishes.

FAQs

Can I make it ahead?

For the best results, it is recommended to serve this easy cucumber salad immediately. The cucumbers, once mixed with other ingredients, have a tendency to soften and might not be as tasty the next day. To ensure the cucumbers retain their crispness, it is advisable to keep the cucumber slices and salad dressing separate until the moment of serving. This simple step will help preserve the delightful crunchiness of the cucumbers and maintain the optimal texture of this perfect salad.

Can I use a different type of vinegar in the dressing?

Yes, the choice of vinegar can be altered according to your personal taste or availability. Apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or even a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime can serve as a good substitute for rice vinegar. However, keep in mind that each vinegar has its unique flavor profile that might slightly alter the taste of the dressing.

Is there a way to reduce the sodium content in this salad?

To reduce the sodium content, you can use low-sodium soy sauce or tamari in the dressing. Additionally, you can adjust the amount of salt you add to the cucumbers or omit it altogether if you're watching your sodium intake.

If you try this recipe, please take a moment to leave a comment and rating. I love hearing from you and it also helps other readers who are thinking of making the recipe.

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