Description
Cool cucumber and bell pepper salad brings Mediterranean freshness to summer tables with crisp, zesty ingredients. Simple chopping and quick tossing create a light, refreshing side dish you’ll crave at every picnic and gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 English cucumber (or 2 Persian cucumbers), sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- 2 tbsps soy sauce (or coconut aminos for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (for garnish)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust for spice)
- ½ tsp everything bagel seasoning (or sesame seeds & sea salt mix)
- 1 tsp sriracha (optional for extra heat)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Vegetable Preparation: Meticulously slice cucumbers and bell peppers into delicate, uniform rounds or slender strips, ensuring consistent thickness for optimal texture and visual appeal.
- Dressing Fusion: Craft a vibrant flavor profile by whisking soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, everything bagel seasoning, sriracha, and sesame oil in a small bowl until ingredients harmonize into a smooth, glossy emulsion.
- Flavor Infusion: Cascade the dynamically blended dressing over the freshly cut vegetables, gently massaging and turning the ingredients to guarantee comprehensive coating and maximum flavor penetration.
- Finishing Touch: Generously sprinkle sesame seeds across the salad, then allow the mixture to rest for 5-10 minutes, enabling the vegetables to absorb the complex, tantalizing dressing while transforming the dish into a refreshing, palate-awakening experience. Serve either chilled or at ambient temperature for a versatile, Instagram-worthy side dish.
Notes
- Cut cucumbers and bell peppers into consistent, thin slices to ensure even dressing distribution and attractive presentation.
- Adjust red pepper flakes and sriracha according to personal heat tolerance, tasting and adding gradually for balanced flavor.
- Allow salad to rest 5-10 minutes before serving, enabling vegetables to absorb dressing and develop deeper taste profile.
- Substitute honey with agave for vegan version, or use low-sodium soy sauce for reduced-sodium diet requirements.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg