Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
A crisp and fresh cucumber salad, perfect for summer. This cool, no-cook side dish is ready in about 15 minutes and hits all the right flavor notes thanks to ingredients like scallions, cilantro, sesame, and chili flakes.
Servings: 4 people as a side
Calories: 81kcal
Ingredients
- 24 ounces thin-skinned cucumbers (such as English hothouse cucumbers or small Persian cucumbers)
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more to taste (I use Diamond Crystal; Morton's is quite salty)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon neutral vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/4 cup loosely-packed cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 2 scallions, sliced very thin
Instructions
- Trim the ends off the cucumbers. Slice the cucumbers in half lengthwise, then slice each half again lengthwise if they are thick to create long sticks. Break the cucumber sticks into pieces about 1 to 1 1/2" in length, more or less.
- Place the cucumber pieces in a colander. Salt with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Toss and let stand for 15 minutes over a bowl. After 15 minutes, pat the cucumbers with paper towels to remove the excess water.
- While the cucumbers are salting, combine the rice vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, vegetable oil, and sesame oil and whisk. Stir in the cilantro, sesame seeds, and scallions, reserving a little of each for garnish.
- Place the salted, drained cucumbers in a bowl. Toss with the dressing and taste for seasoning. You may need a touch more salt. Garnish with the reserved cilantro and sliced scallions, and serve immediately.
Notes
This Asian Cucumber Salad is best served immediately, but will still taste good the next day, though the cucumbers will continue to release water overnight. Just drain the excess liquid, give it a toss, and re-season as needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1757mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 398IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is provided for courtesy purposes only, and is an estimate not verified by medical or nutrition experts. Read the full nutrition disclaimer.
