Spicy Cucumber Salad Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing Spicy Cucumber Salad featuring crisp Persian cucumbers tossed in a flavorful blend of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic, and red chili flakes, garnished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. This quick and easy salad offers a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors, ideal as a light side dish or appetizer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 8 mini or Persian cucumbers
- 1 green onion (ends trimmed and finely sliced)
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Dressing
- 1 ½ tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (tamari or coconut aminos if gluten free)
- 1 ½ tbsp rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp crushed or full red chili flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Accordion Cucumbers: Wash and dry the cucumbers. Trim the ends off. Place each cucumber between two chopsticks and make thin, diagonal cuts at a 45° angle on the top, being careful not to cut all the way through, as the chopsticks will act as a barrier. Flip the cucumber and make cuts at a 90° angle to create a spiral effect. Avoid cutting straight across or repeating the 45° angle to ensure the spiral forms correctly. Cut the spiral cucumbers in half and place them in a large mixing bowl. Alternatively, thinly slice cucumbers using a mandolin.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, and red chili flakes until well combined. Taste the dressing and adjust seasoning as desired for balance between salty, sweet, and spicy.
- Assemble the Salad: Pour the dressing generously over the prepared cucumbers in the bowl. Gently toss to coat the cucumbers without breaking them apart. Garnish with finely sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing, spicy salad.
Notes
- To make this salad gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of regular soy sauce.
- Adjust the amount of red chili flakes to control the heat level.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup.
- Use Persian cucumbers for the best texture and flavor, but mini cucumbers can be used as well.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain cucumber crispness.
Keywords: Spicy cucumber salad, Asian cucumber salad, spicy side dish, cucumber recipe, gluten-free salad, quick cucumber salad
Find it online: https://zarameals.com/spicy-cucumber-salad-recipe/
