Asian Cucumber Salad

Asian Cucumber Salad is a lovely blend of flavours and textures that is crisp, refreshing, and full of vibrant flavours. It is a standout dish in any culinary lineup. Crunchy cucumbers, tart rice vinegar, a touch of sugar or honey, and a burst of heat from fresh chiles or red pepper flakes all come together in a pleasing salad. This salad is visually beautiful and tantalising to the senses due to the addition of fragrant toasted sesame seeds and scented sesame oil. With its enticing blend of Eastern flavours, Asian Cucumber Salad is guaranteed to make an impact whether it is eaten as a side dish to go with a main course or on its own as a light and healthful snack.

Table of Contents

Ingredients:

  1. Two big cucumbers cut thinly
  2. 1/4 cup vinegar made from rice
  3. a few tablespoons of soy sauce
  4. One tablespoon of sesame oil
  5. One spoonful of sugar or honey
  6. One tsp finely chopped, fresh ginger
  7. two minced garlic cloves
  8. One teaspoon of optional red pepper flakes
  9. Two green onions, cut thinly
  10. As a garnish, add chopped cilantro and sesame seeds.

Directions:

Rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey or sugar, minced garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using) should all be combined in a small bowl. Cucumbers and green onions, cut thinly, should be combined in a big mixing bowl.After lightly tossing to coat, pour the dressing over the cucumbers and green onions. To let the flavours marry, cover the bowl and chill it for at least half an hour.

If preferred, top the salad with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds before serving.

Variations:

Of course! Asian Cucumber Salad has several varieties that lend themselves to creativity and customisation. Here are a few well-liked versions:

  • Add extra heat to this spicy Asian cucumber salad by adding sliced fresh chilli peppers, extra red pepper flakes, or a dab of sriracha sauce.
  • Soy Ginger Cucumber Salad: Incorporate soy sauce, grated ginger, and chopped garlic into the dressing to give the flavour profile a savoury edge.
  • Sesame Cucumber Salad: Use more sesame oil and add toasted sesame seeds to the salad as well as a garnish to intensify the nutty flavour.
  • Thai Cucumber Salad: Toss cucumbers with chopped peanuts, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and a dash of soy or fish sauce to infuse flavours reminiscent of Thailand.
  • Japanese Sunomono: To make this dish, thinly slice cucumbers and marinate them in a solution of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. For added flavour, you can occasionally add a small amount of mirin or soy sauce.
    Make a Korean-inspired variation of Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim) by tossing cucumbers in a dressing consisting of gochujang (Korean chilli paste), garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
  • Vietnamese Cucumber Salad: Incorporate Vietnamese flavors by combining cucumbers with shredded carrots, fresh herbs like mint and cilantro, and a zesty dressing made with lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, and a hint of sugar.

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