Easy & Quick Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe
A quick and easy Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad featuring thinly sliced cucumbers tossed in a flavorful dressing of soy sauce, garlic, chili oil, vinegar, and sesame. This refreshing salad is perfect as a light appetizer or side dish with a spicy kick and satisfying crunch, ready in just 10 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Cucumbers
- 6 Mini cucumbers (or Persian cucumbers)
- 2 tsp Salt (to drain water)
Dressing
- 1 tbsp Regular soy sauce
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp Rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 1 tbsp Chinese chili oil
- 1 tbsp White granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 1 tsp Sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp Green onion (finely sliced)
Instructions
- Prepare cucumbers: Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and cut off the ends to prepare them for slicing.
- Slice cucumbers: Place one cucumber between two chopsticks to create a barrier, then make thin diagonal slices on the top side. Flip the cucumber and repeat the slicing on the other side to create a spiral effect. Cut cucumber into halves. Repeat this process for all cucumbers. Alternatively, thinly slice cucumbers if preferred.
- Salt and drain cucumbers: Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of salt over the sliced cucumbers and gently massage them. Allow the cucumbers to soak in the salt for 5 minutes, but no longer than 10 minutes to prevent breakdown. Rinse cucumbers thoroughly with cold water 3-4 times to remove excess salt. Strain and set aside.
- Make dressing: In a separate bowl, combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon Chinese chili oil, 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon sesame seeds. Mix well until sugar dissolves and ingredients are fully blended.
- Toss salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the cucumbers and gently toss until evenly coated. Garnish with 2 tablespoons finely sliced green onions. Serve immediately and enjoy this refreshing, spicy salad.
Notes
- Do not soak cucumbers in salt more than 10 minutes to avoid them becoming too soft or mushy.
- Adjust chili oil amount based on your heat preference.
- Using mini or Persian cucumbers provides a better texture for this salad due to their thin skin and fewer seeds.
- Serve immediately for the freshest taste; this salad is best eaten within a few hours.
- For a vegan version, ensure the soy sauce contains no animal-derived ingredients.
