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Easy & Quick Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

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4.3 from 235 reviews

This Easy & Quick Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and crispy side dish with a perfect balance of spicy, savory, and tangy flavors. Featuring mini or Persian cucumbers seasoned with soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, chili oil, and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions, it makes a fast and flavorful appetizer or side for any meal.

  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings as a small side

Ingredients

Cucumbers

  • 6 mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers
  • 2 teaspoons salt (for draining water)

Dressing

  • 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese chili oil
  • 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons green onion, finely sliced

Instructions

  1. Prepare Cucumbers: Wash the cucumbers and cut off the ends. Place one cucumber between two chopsticks and make thin diagonal slices on the top side. Flip and repeat on the other side to create a spiral effect. Then cut each cucumber in half. Repeat this for all cucumbers and transfer them to a large bowl.
  2. Salt and Drain: Sprinkle salt over the cucumbers and gently massage it in. Let them soak in the salt for 5 minutes but no longer than 10 to avoid breaking down. Rinse cucumbers thoroughly with cold water 3-4 times to remove all salt. Drain and set aside.
  3. Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, combine soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, Chinese chili oil, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and sliced green onions. Mix well until sugar is dissolved.
  4. Combine and Serve: Pour the dressing over the drained cucumbers and gently toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately and enjoy the crisp and spicy Asian cucumber salad.

Notes

  • Do not soak cucumbers in salt for more than 10 minutes or they will become mushy.
  • Use mini or Persian cucumbers for best texture and flavor.
  • You can adjust the chili oil amount to control the spiciness level.
  • The spiral slicing technique enhances the salad’s texture and appearance but thin slices work as an alternative.
  • Serve immediately for the freshest crunch; refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 day.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/easy-and-quick-spicy-asian-cucumber-salad-recipe/