Asian Cucumber Salad

This Easy Asian Inspired Cucumber Salad is made with crunchy thinly sliced cucumbers, sweet onion, red pepper, and a tangy-sweet heat salad dressing that goes with so many dishes. Also, it pulls together in a matter of minutes and is a complete meal with Chicken Satay or Egg Roll in a Bowl.

We love a great cucumber salad side dish like this Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad or my mom’s Finnish Cucumber Salad/Kurkkusalaatti. They are both so enjoyed in the summertime but can be made at any time too.

What is in Asian Cucumber Salad?

Very simple ingredients go into this cucumber salad recipe, but the flavor is nothing but fantastic. Easy to find grocery store items that you may already have in your kitchen now.

How To Make Asian Cucumber Salad

This easy cucumber salad comes together in a matter of minutes. It is wonderful with so many Asian dishes, BBQ, picnics, or gatherings too. It is like a quick pickle with an Asian flair.

Thinly slice cucumber using a mandoline or sharp knife and set aside. The mandolin makes very quick work of a vegetable like a cucumber. You will have this sliced up in a matter of minutes. Slicing by hand is much longer but, of course, still doable. Investing in a mandoline is a great time saver for making 30-minute meals. Clean-up is quick with a mandoline, and also, they aren’t expensive—a great tool for so many uses.

You can peel the cucumber if you like, but I like the peel as not only is it nutritious and fibrous but also adds more crunch to the salad.

One trick that my mom taught me though was to run a fork up the cucumber, making stripes. This does soften the cucumber and will also make the slices look a bit frilly too.

Finely chop the sweet onion and red pepper.

Then combine the cucumbers, onion, and red pepper in a medium bowl.

Making The Simple Salad Dressing

In a separate small bowl, mix together the rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and sea salt. Whisk to combine.

You can also use a measuring cup like we did for easy pouring.

1. Add the dressing to the cucumber bowl and toss to coat.

You can leave the salad simple like this and enjoy. It is very simple and delicious with the tangy dressing.

Or serve the salad garnished with the chopped peanuts and cilantro. Add the garnish right before serving.

However you want to present it, if you love cucumbers, then you will love this Asian salad.

How Long Ahead of Time Can You Make This Salad?

Personally, I love it when the cucumber is nice and crispy. I made this salad and served it right away as part of a 30-minute meal.

There is no need to let this salad sit and pickle. Since the cucumbers are sliced so thinly, they will wilt quickly too.

You can eat any remaining salad the next day, but I wouldn’t make it a day ahead to serve it.

Always garnish with peanuts and cilantro right before serving too.

The idea of this salad is not a make-ahead but a very quick side for a meal.

What to Serve Easy Asian Inspired Cucumber Salad With?

There are many dishes that we like to serve this simple cucumber salad with. There is nothing better than a fast side dish to add to a gorgeous entree. Here are just a few examples, the list could go on and on, but I think this will help you conjure up some amazing meals.

Korean Chicken Wings

Grilled Korean Short Ribs

Korean BBQ Bulgogi

Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork

Smoked Pork Belly

Crock Pot Saucy Asian Ribs

Smoked Chicken Thighs

Quick Easy Asian Meatballs

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Asian Cucumber Salad

Tara Noland

This refreshingly cool and crispy Asian Inspired Cucumber Salad is a great side dish for many Asian meals but also wonderful with a BBQ, picnic, or as an easy side for weeknights.

4.88 from 8 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Salads

Cuisine Asian inspired

Servings 4 servings

Calories 31 kcal

Ingredients

 

• 3 cups thinly sliced cucumber
• ¼ cup finely sliced sweet onion
• ¼ cup finely diced red pepper
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• ½ tsp sesame oil
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp chopped peanuts or sesame seeds
• Cilantro to garnish

Instructions

 

• Thinly slice cucumber using a mandoline or sharp knife and set aside. Finely chop the sweet onion and red pepper.
• Then combine the cucumbers, onion, and red pepper in a medium bowl.
• In a separate small bowl, mix together the rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and sea salt. Whisk to combine.
• Add the dressing to the cucumber bowl and toss to coat.
• Garnish with the chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Equipment

GLAMFIELDS Reusable Wooden Chopsticks Japanese Minimalism Natural 5 Pairs Lightweight Hand-Carved Safe Chop Sticks 8.8 Inch/22.5cm -with Multi-purpose Drawstring Bag Carrying Case

Reusable Wooden Forks 12 Piece Set For Eating – Bamboo Fork Dinning Flatware Bulk Eco Friendly Tableware – Kitchen Utensils – Small Wood Utensil For Salads Appetizers Desserts Asian Cooking & Serving

Mandoline Slicer with Protective Gloves -VEKAYA, Slice Julienne for Cheese Carrot Potato Chip Onion French Fry, Efficient Kitchen Cutter Chopper for Vegetable Time Saver

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 148mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4g

Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!