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 Recipe. They are both so enjoyed in the summertime, but can be made at any time too.
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Mandoline Slicer with Protective Gloves
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.
Ingredients
Cucumbers, English cucumbers, or regular
Sweet onion or green onion
Red pepper
Rice wine vinegar
Honey
Sesame oil
Red pepper flakes
Sea salt
Chopped peanuts or sesame seeds
Cilantro
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.
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.
Pin it HERE!!
Pin it HERE!!
Asian Cucumber Salad
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.
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