Asian Cucumber Salad Sesame (Print out)

Refreshing cucumber salad with sesame and rice vinegar dressing, perfect for light, flavorful meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

03 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
05 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
06 - 1 teaspoon sugar or maple syrup
07 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
10 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

→ Garnish

11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
12 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, optional
13 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Place sliced cucumbers in a large bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and toss to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes to draw out excess moisture, then gently squeeze and drain off any liquid.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, ginger, and black pepper until the sugar dissolves completely.
03 - Add the dressing and sliced green onions to the prepared cucumbers. Toss gently to ensure even coating.
04 - Transfer salad to a serving bowl. Top with toasted sesame seeds, fresh cilantro, and red pepper flakes if desired.
05 - Serve immediately for crisp texture, or chill for 10 to 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and intensify.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 10 minutes flat, which means you can make it while your main course is still cooking.
  • The sesame-ginger dressing has just enough punch to feel sophisticated without overwhelming the delicate cucumbers.
  • It pairs beautifully with almost anything Asian-inspired or even just a simple grilled protein.
02 -
  • Don't skip the salting and draining step—it's the difference between a crisp salad and one that turns into a soggy puddle after 20 minutes.
  • The dressing is best made fresh, but if you need to prep ahead, keep it separate and toss everything together just before serving or eating.
03 -
  • If your cucumbers are watery or you live somewhere humid, let them drain even longer than 5 minutes—there's no such thing as too dry in this case.
  • Invest in a bottle of good toasted sesame oil; it lasts forever in the pantry and transforms simple dishes like this one into something that tastes restaurant-quality.
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