Zesty Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe: Cool Summer Crunch

Chilled cucumber salad with an Asian twist dances across taste buds, bringing zesty flavors that electrify summer meals.

Crisp cucumber slices mingle with bold sesame and tangy rice vinegar for an irresistible side dish.

Fresh herbs add bright green notes to this simple yet stunning recipe.

Vibrant aromatics like ginger and green onions weave through each refreshing bite.

Crunchy textures and complex seasonings make this salad a standout companion to grilled meats or rice dishes.

Prepare to surprise your palate with this quick and easy culinary adventure that promises to become a new favorite at your table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 50 kcal

Servings: 4

What You Need for Asian Cucumber Salad Success

• Cucumbers: Crisp, watery vegetable that provides a refreshing crunch and light base for the salad, choose firm cucumbers without soft spots or yellowing.
• Salt: Helps draw out excess moisture from cucumbers, ensuring a crunchy and concentrated flavor.

• Rice Vinegar, Soy Sauce: Creates a tangy and umami-rich liquid base that infuses the salad with authentic Asian flavor profiles, select high-quality brands for best results.
• Sesame Oil: Adds nutty and aromatic depth, choose toasted sesame oil for more intense flavor.
• Sugar: Balances the acidic and salty elements, provides subtle sweetness to round out the dressing.
• Garlic: Introduces sharp, pungent notes that complement the other dressing ingredients, fresh garlic provides the most robust taste.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional spicy element that adds gentle heat and complexity to the salad.

• Sesame Seeds: Toasted seeds bring a delightful nutty crunch and visual appeal, lightly toast before adding for enhanced flavor.
• Green Onions: Provides fresh, mild onion flavor and bright green color, slice thinly for even distribution.

Tools for Crunchy, Fresh Cucumber Salad

• Cutting Board: Sturdy surface for slicing cucumbers safely.
• Sharp Knife: Crucial for thinly slicing cucumbers into uniform rounds.
• Colander: Perfect for draining and rinsing salted cucumbers.
• Clean Kitchen Towel: Helps pat cucumbers dry after rinsing.
• Small Mixing Bowl: Used for whisking together dressing ingredients.
• Whisk: Essential for blending dressing components smoothly.
• Large Serving Bowl: Combines cucumbers and dressing for final mix.
• Measuring Spoons: Ensures accurate dressing ingredient quantities.

How to Assemble a Crisp Asian Cucumber Salad

• Slice Cucumbers

Grab your favorite cucumber and create thin, elegant rounds or half-moons. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the slices and let them rest in a colander, allowing excess moisture to drip away. After 10 minutes, rinse and gently pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.

• Whip Up the Zesty Dressing

In a small mixing bowl, combine rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, a touch of sugar, finely chopped garlic, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a kick of heat. Whisk these ingredients until they dance together harmoniously.

• Bring the Salad to Life

Transfer your cucumber slices into a large bowl and pour the vibrant dressing over them. Toss gently, ensuring each slice gets a delicious coating. Scatter toasted sesame seeds and fresh green onion slices on top for an extra layer of texture and flavor.

• Enjoy Immediately

Serve the salad right away for a crisp, refreshing experience. If you prefer a more intense flavor, let the salad sit in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, allowing the cucumbers to soak up the delicious dressing.

Add Flavor to Asian Cucumber Salad with These Tips

• Salt the cucumbers beforehand to remove excess moisture, ensuring a perfectly crisp and refreshing salad texture.
• Adjust red pepper flakes to match your heat tolerance, from a mild sprinkle to a fiery kick for adventurous palates.
• Replace sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener to make the salad keto and diabetic-friendly without compromising taste.
• Add grilled chicken, tofu, or shrimp to transform this side dish into a complete and satisfying meal with extra nutritional value.
• Experiment with alternative fresh herbs like Thai basil, cilantro, or mint to create unique flavor profiles and keep the salad exciting.

Ways to Present Asian Cucumber Salad at Any Meal

• Cool Cucumber Companion Plate: Pair this zesty salad with grilled chicken or fish for a light, refreshing meal that balances rich proteins perfectly.
• Picnic Perfect Side: Pack this salad in a sealed container for outdoor gatherings, potlucks, or summer lunch boxes as a tangy, crunchy addition to your spread.
• Quick Noodle Bowl Topper: Sprinkle the cucumber salad over cold soba noodles or ramen for an extra layer of texture and bright, zingy flavor that elevates your noodle dish.
• Asian-Inspired Appetizer Twist: Serve the salad in small shot glasses or mini appetizer bowls for an elegant party starter that will impress guests with its vibrant colors and bold taste.

How to Keep Cucumber Salad Tasting Fresh

• Refrigerate the salad in an airtight container for maximum flavor infusion, keeping it fresh for 23 days.
• Let the cucumber salad rest in the dressing for 1520 minutes before serving to enhance taste absorption and develop deeper taste profiles.
• Slice cucumbers and prepare dressing separately, storing them in different sealed containers to maintain crispness until ready to combine and serve.
• Mix remaining salad with cold rice noodles or use as a vibrant topping for grilled proteins, extending the dish's versatility and reducing food waste.

Crisp Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Crisp cucumber slices dance with zesty Asian-inspired flavors in this refreshing Cucumber Salad. Cool textures and bold seasonings promise a quick, delightful side dish you’ll crave at every summer meal.

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Ingredients

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• 2 large cucumbers (English or Persian)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons/30 ml rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon/15 ml soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 1 teaspoon/5 ml sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon/15 g sugar (or honey for natural sweetener)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
• 2 tablespoons green onions, thinly sliced

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Instructions

1. Cucumber Preparation: Delicately slice cucumbers into elegant rounds, generously salt to extract moisture, rinse thoroughly, and pat completely dry with a clean towel.
2. Dressing Creation: Craft a vibrant Asian-inspired vinaigrette by vigorously whisking rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, and optional red pepper flakes until harmoniously blended.
3. Salad Composition: Gently transfer cucumber slices into a spacious mixing vessel, cascade the aromatic dressing across the surface, and tenderly toss to ensure comprehensive coating. Embellish with toasted sesame seeds and delicately sliced green onions for textural contrast and visual appeal.
4. Serving Recommendation: For optimal taste experience, serve immediately to preserve crisp texture, or allow a brief 15-20 minute refrigeration period to enhance flavor complexity and develop more profound taste dimensions.

Notes

• Remove excess water from cucumbers by salting and patting dry to prevent a watery, diluted salad and ensure crisp texture.
• Customize red pepper flakes according to heat preference – start with a small amount and increase gradually for personalized flavor.
• Use English cucumbers for a more delicate taste and fewer seeds, which helps maintain the salad’s clean, light profile.
• Let the salad sit for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld, but avoid leaving too long to prevent cucumbers from becoming soggy.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: None
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 70
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg