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Easy Asian Cucumber Salad

A refreshing and simple Asian-inspired cucumber salad that's quick to make and full of flavor, perfect as a side dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Knife sharpest knife
  • Medium bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Dry pan for toasting sesame seeds
  • Airtight container for storage

Ingredients
  

Salad

  • 5 Persian cucumbers cucumbers thinly sliced on a diagonal, about 1/8-inch thick
  • 0.5 tsp salt for crisping cucumbers

Dressing

  • 0.5 tbsp sesame oil
  • 0.75 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 0.5 tbsp sugar or to taste, can add more if sweeter preference
  • 0.75 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp chili oil or to taste
  • 0.5 tbsp sesame seeds toasted
  • 0.5 tbsp minced garlic optional

Instructions
 

  • Slice those cucumbers thinly on a bit of a diagonal for a pretty presentation. Aim for about 1/8-inch thickness.
    5 Persian cucumbers cucumbers
  • Pop your sliced cucumbers into a medium bowl. Sprinkle them with the salt and give them a good toss. Let them hang out for about 10-15 minutes. This step is super important – it draws out excess water, keeping your salad from getting watery and making those cucumbers extra crisp!
    5 Persian cucumbers cucumbers
  • While our cucumbers are doing their thing, let's make the dressing! In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, light soy sauce, sugar (start with the smaller amount and taste!), rice vinegar, chili oil, and minced garlic if you're using it. Give it a good mix until everything is well combined and the sugar has dissolved.
    5 Persian cucumbers cucumbers
  • Once your cucumbers have rested and look a little glistening, carefully drain out any liquid that has accumulated at the bottom of the bowl. You can even give them a gentle squeeze with your hands if you want to be extra sure.
    5 Persian cucumbers cucumbers
  • Now for the best part! Pour that gorgeous dressing you made over the drained cucumbers. Gently toss everything together, making sure each cucumber slice gets coated in that flavorful dressing.
    5 Persian cucumbers cucumbers
  • Sprinkle those lovely sesame seeds over the top. Give it one last gentle toss. And voilà! Your Easy Asian Cucumber Salad is ready to be devoured.
    5 Persian cucumbers cucumbers

Notes

This salad is best enjoyed fresh. You can slice the cucumbers and make the dressing a few hours in advance, but toss them together just before serving for optimal crispness. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, though the cucumbers may soften.