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Easy Asian Cucumber Salad

Easy Asian Cucumber Salad

Enjoy thinly sliced cucumbers tossed in a deliciously spicy, tangy, and savory dressing for this easy Asian cucumber salad. A great choice for an appetizer or as a side dish!
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Asian
Calories: 0.1502
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 5 Persian cucumbers
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tbsp Sesame oil
  • 3/4 tbsp Light soy sauce
  • 1/2-1 tbsp Sugar Start with 1/2 tbsp and adjust to taste
  • 3/4 tbsp Rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Chili oil Adjust to heat preference
  • 1/2 tbsp Sesame seeds
  • 1/2 tbsp Garlic Minced, optional

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Rinse the cucumbers. Slice off one end of each cucumber at an angle.
  2. Continue slicing the cucumbers at an angle, aiming for oval-shaped slices rather than perfectly round. The thickness is up to your preference.
  3. Place the sliced cucumbers in a bowl or container and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp of salt. Mix well.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to draw out excess moisture. This step is crucial for maintaining crunchiness.
  5. Drain the water from the cucumbers. Rinse them briefly under cold running water for about 10 seconds, then gently squeeze out any excess water.
  6. Return the cucumbers to the bowl. Add the sesame oil, light soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, chili oil, sesame seeds, and minced garlic (if using).
  7. Stir everything together until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, particularly the sugar and chili oil.
  8. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Sweating the cucumbers by salting and refrigerating them helps to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crisp texture and preventing a watery salad. Rinsing after salting is important to prevent the salad from becoming too salty due to the soy sauce. This salad is best served fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, with the dressing kept separate if making ahead.