Asian Cucumber Salad

Name: Asian Cucumber Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 tbs sesame seeds; 500 g cucumbers (Lebanese, Continental, Persian, or mini qukes); 2 tbs rice wine vinegar; 2 tsp sesame oil; 1 tbs soy sauce; 1 tsp minced garlic; 1 tbs caster sugar; pinch of salt

Jump to Recipe

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!

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.

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

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

Step 3 - Make The Dressing

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.

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.

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:

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