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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- Cucumber Preparation: Delicately slice cucumbers into elegant rounds, generously salt to extract moisture, rinse thoroughly, and pat completely dry with a clean towel.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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