Asian Cucumber Salad Sesame (Printable)

Refreshing cucumber salad tossed with sesame, rice vinegar, and fresh spices.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

03 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
05 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
06 - 1 teaspoon sugar or maple syrup
07 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
10 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

→ Garnish

11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
12 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, optional
13 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

# Directions:

01 - Place sliced cucumbers in a large bowl, sprinkle with sea salt, and toss to combine. Allow to sit for 5 minutes to release excess moisture, then gently squeeze and drain the liquid.
02 - Whisk together rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, ginger, and black pepper in a small bowl until sugar dissolves completely.
03 - Add the dressing and sliced green onions to the drained cucumbers and toss gently until evenly coated.
04 - Transfer to a serving bowl and top with toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, and red pepper flakes if desired.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes to enhance flavor development before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in 10 minutes flat, making it perfect for those nights when you need something fresh but have no time to fuss.
  • The salad stays crisp and bright even after sitting in the fridge, which means you can actually make it ahead without regret.
  • One bowl feeds four people generously, so it's a quiet hero when you're feeding a crowd on a budget.
02 -
  • The cucumber salting step seems like it might wilt the vegetables, but it actually does the opposite by removing excess water that would dilute your dressing.
  • Never taste the dressing straight from the bowl; it needs to meet the cucumber to make sense, because salt from the cucumber prep changes everything.
03 -
  • Make the dressing ahead if you're cooking for company, but don't dress the cucumbers until right before serving, or at most 15 minutes prior.
  • If you can't find toasted sesame seeds, toast regular ones in a dry skillet for 2 minutes over medium heat and the transformation is instant and worth it.
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