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    Home » Recipes » Salads & Sides » Asian Cucumber Salad

    Asian Cucumber Salad

    Published: Mar 1, 2023 by Lucy · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe
    Toasted sesame seeds sprinkled over Asian Cucumber Salad.

    Asian Cucumber Salad is a delicious and easy dish that combines crunchy cucumbers, toasted sesame seeds and a flavourful sweet soy and garlic dressing. Ready in just 10 minutes!

    This salad can be served as a side dish or as the star of the meal. With its fresh ingredients and big bold flavours, this Asian Cucumber Salad is sure to please everyone in your family!

    Asian cucumber salad in a serving dish.

    This tasty cucumber salad is on high rotation in our house, thanks to it's super quick prep time and it's BIG sweet, salty, crunchy flavours.

    It's perfectly matched with Asian Turkey Meatballs, Chicken Rissoles, Thai Chicken Meatballs or with my easy Fish Cakes!

    Looking for more tasty salad recipes?

    Here's a few more of my most popular salads - Curried Rice Salad, Orzo Pesto Salad or Creamy Potato & Bacon Salad.

    Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

    • Refreshing - Asian cucumber salad is light and refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day or as an side dish to a more substantial meal.
    • Quick and easy - this salad takes only 10 minutes to make and requires very few ingredients.
    • Nutritious - cucumbers are low in calories but high in antioxidants, vitamins C and K, magnesium, and fibre.
    • Versatile - you can add any additional vegetables you have on hand – carrots, peppers, radishes, or tomatoes would all be great options.
    • Customisable - feel free to adjust the dressing according to your own preferences - by using honey instead of sugar, or by adding a little chilli oil for a bit of heat.
    Asian cucumber salad in a serving dish.

    What You Need

    Just a handful of ingredients are needed!

    Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

    Ingredients for making asian cucumber salad.
    • Sesame seeds - a good source of healthy fats, protein, B vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and other beneficial plant compounds.
    • Cucumbers - use any variety such as Lebanese, Continental, mini qukes, Persian etc.

    For The Dressing

    • Rice wine vinegar - is less acidic than regular vinegars, with a delicate, mild, and somewhat sweet flavor.
    • Sesame oil - Chang's Sesame Oil is a popular brand, and widely available.
    • Soy sauce - is of Chinese origin, and gives a salty, umami flavour to many asian dishes.
    • Minced garlic - store-bought minced garlic is fine to use, or you can crush fresh cloves.
    • Caster sugar - also known as superfine sugar.
    • Salt.

    Equipment Required

    All you will need for this simple Asian Cucumber Salad is:

    • Frying pan;
    • Whisk;
    • Mixing bowl;
    • Serving bowl.

    Step By Step Instructions

    This simple Cucumber Salad with Asian-inspired flavours will be ready in just 10 minutes.

    Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

    Step 1 - Toast The Sesame Seeds

    Heat a frying pan over medium heat without oil and add the sesame seeds. Toss until lightly golden and toasted, then set aside.

    Note: be careful that they don't burn!

    Step 2 - Slice The Cucumbers

    Sliced cucumbers in a bowl.

    Slice the cucumbers into thin, round slices approximately ½ cm thick and transfer to a bowl.

    Step 3 - Make The Dressing

    Dressing for Asian salad in a bowl.

    In a bowl, stir together the rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, caster sugar, and salt to make the dressing.

    Step 4 - Mix Together, Chill & Serve

    Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and mix until well combined.

    Cucumbers and dressing in a bowl.

    This salad can be served immediately, but to develop the flavour more, chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, tossing every now and then to ensure that all slices are evenly coated with the spicy Asian dressing.

    Toasted sesame seeds being sprinkled on sliced cucumbers with a wooden spoon.

    When you're ready to serve, discard any excess liquid from the bottom of the bowl, before sprinkling toasted sesame seeds over the crispy cucumber salad.

    Cucumber salad sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds in a serving dish.

    Expert Tips

    • If possible, chill the salad in the fridge for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally to coat all cucumber slices in the dressing, then add toasted sesame seeds to serve.
    • Add some red pepper flakes or chilli oil for a more spicy Asian cucumber salad.
    • Use black sesame seeds for a beautiful contrast in colour.
    • For a creamy cucumber salad, add a bit of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to the dressing.
    • Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
    • This recipe is not suitable for freezing.

    FAQs

    What is Japanese cucumber salad made of?

    Typically, sliced cucumbers are tossed in an Asian-style dressing comprised of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic and red pepper flakes to make Japanese cucumber salad.

    What is Sunomono salad made of?

    This sweet and sour cucumber salad, which is seasoned with vinegar, sugar, salt, and soy sauce, is a great side dish that goes well with any Japanese meal. It is wonderfully light, nutritious, and refreshing.

    Asian cucumber salad in a black serving dish.

    Related Recipes

    This cucumber salad recipe can be served as an appetizer, snack, or even as a side to your main meal:

    Here are a few of my most popular salad recipes:

    • Curried Egg Salad
    • A bowl of cabbage salad with noodles.
      Chang's Crispy Noodle Salad
    • Salad servers in a bowl of couscous salad with roast vegetables.
      Roast Vegetable Couscous Salad
    • An overhead shot of a broccoli salad with bacon, almonds, cranberries and a creamy dressing.
      Creamy Broccoli Salad With Bacon

    WANT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. And if you love baking, then please come and join my Facebook cooking club group or subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

    Sesame seeds being poured onto a sweet and soy Asian cucumber salad.

    Asian Cucumber Salad

    Asian Cucumber Salad is a delicious and easy dish that combines crunchy cucumbers, toasted sesame seeds and a flavourful sweet soy and garlic dressing.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salads
    Cuisine: Asian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 6 serves
    Calories: 49kcal
    Author: Lucy - Bake Play Smile

    Ingredients

    • 2 tbs sesame seeds
    • 500 g cucumbers Lebanese, Continental, Persian, or mini qukes

    For the dressing

    • 2 tbs rice wine vinegar
    • 2 tsp sesame oil
    • 1 tbs soy sauce
    • 1 tsp minced garlic
    • 1 tbs caster sugar
    • pinch of salt

    Instructions

    • Place the sesame seeds into a frying pan over medium heat (no oil). Stir until lightly golden and toasted. Set aside.
    • Slice the cucumbers into thin round slices (approximately ½ cm thick). Place into a bowl.
    • Make the dressing by whisking the rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, caster sugar and salt in a bowl.
    • Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss to coat.
    • Note: this salad can be served immediately BUT for best results, place into the fridge for 30 minutes and toss occasionally to coat the cucumber slices.
    • When ready to serve, drain off any excess liquid and discard.
      Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the salad just before serving.

    Notes

    RECIPE NOTES & TIPS
    • If possible, place into the fridge for 30 minutes and toss occasionally to coat the cucumber slices and let the flavours develop more. Drain any liquid off before sprinkling toasted sesame seeds over the salad and serving.
    • Be careful not to let the sesame seeds burn when toasting them.
    • Add some red pepper flakes or chilli oil for a more spicy Asian cucumber salad.
    • Use black sesame seeds for a beautiful contrast in colour.
    • For a creamy cucumber salad, add a bit of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to the dressing.
    • Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
    • This recipe is not suitable for freezing.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 170mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @BakePlaySmileBlog or tag #BakePlaySmile!
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    I’m Lucy! A mum, a wife, a food blogger and a lover of all things to do with food! I love creating delicious, no-fuss Thermomix and conventional recipes the whole family will love. Classic baking favourites, lunch box snacks, quick and easy family dinners and more!

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