Description
A refreshing and spicy Asian cucumber salad made with mini cucumbers, flavored with soy sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, and Chinese chili oil. This quick and easy recipe is perfect as a light appetizer or side dish, combining crunchy cucumbers with a flavorful, tangy, and mildly spicy dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
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
- Prep Cucumbers: Wash cucumbers thoroughly and cut off the ends to prepare for slicing.
- Slice Cucumbers: Place one cucumber between two chopsticks and make thin diagonal slices on the top, then flip and repeat on the other side to create a spiral effect. Cut cucumber halves. Repeat for all cucumbers and transfer to a large bowl. Alternatively, thinly slice cucumbers if preferred.
- Salt Cucumbers: Sprinkle salt evenly over the cucumbers and gently massage them to help draw out water. Let them soak for 5 minutes (no longer than 10 minutes to prevent breaking down).
- Rinse Cucumbers: Rinse the cucumbers thoroughly under cold water 3-4 times to remove excess salt. Strain and set aside.
- Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, combine the soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, Chinese chili oil, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and finely sliced green onions. Mix well to create a flavorful dressing.
- Toss Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the cucumbers and gently mix until well-coated. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Use Persian or mini cucumbers for best texture; regular cucumbers can be used but may be less crisp.
- Do not soak cucumbers in salt for more than 10 minutes to avoid mushy texture.
- The spiral slicing technique enhances presentation but thin slices work well too.
- Adjust chili oil quantity to your preferred spice level.
- Serve chilled for better flavor and crunch.
