Description
Spicy cucumber salad brings crisp, zesty flavors from Asian cuisine to your table. Cool cucumbers mingle with fiery chili and tangy vinegar, creating a refreshing side dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large cucumbers (or 4 mini cucumbers), thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp grated ginger (optional, for extra flavor)
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- ½ tsp salt (for sweating the cucumbers)
- 1 tsp (5 mL) sesame oil
- 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, optional for extra heat)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cucumber Preparation: Salt cucumber slices to draw out excess moisture, then pat dry with a paper towel to ensure crisp texture.
- Dressing Fusion: Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, gochugaru, and grated ginger to create a complex, spicy-sweet dressing.
- Salad Assembly: Combine cucumber slices and green onions in a mixing bowl, then pour the vibrant dressing over the vegetables, tossing thoroughly to ensure complete coating.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with toasted sesame seeds for a nutty crunch and visual enhancement. Allow the salad to rest for 15 minutes to develop deeper flavor profiles, or serve immediately for a crisp, refreshing experience.
Notes
- Prevent Watery Salad: Salt cucumber slices and pat dry to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crisp and crunchy texture.
- Balance Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes and gochugaru according to personal heat tolerance for a customized spicy experience.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Let salad marinate for 15 minutes to allow dressing to penetrate cucumber and develop more intense taste.
- Serve Strategically: Enjoy immediately for maximum crispness or after brief marination for deeper flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg