5-Ingredient Simple Asian Cucumber Salad

Published: Jul 12, 2016 · Modified: Jun 13, 2023 by Tara Kuczykowski · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

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This simple Asian cucumber salad recipe is super light and refreshing... Rice vinegar and dark sesame oil, along with toasted sesame seeds, give it a delicious oriental flair!

Asian Cucumber Salad

Cucumber salad is, hands down, one of my favorite summer side dishes -- and with good reason. It's light, refreshing, and pairs well with just about any main dish. Plus cucumbers are plentiful, fresh, and dirt cheap this time of year!

I've shared my family's go-to Hungarian cucumber salad (a family heirloom recipe) and a delicious Greek cucumber salad previously. But lately I've been craving this flavorful and uber simple Asian cucumber salad... And when I say simple, I mean S-I-M-P-L-E!!!

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How To Slice Cucumbers For Asian Cucumber Salad

One thing is certain -- no matter what type of cucumber salad you're preparing, you should start by removing as much water from the cucumbers as possible to prevent any excess juice from watering down your dressing.

I start by slicing my cucumbers as thinly as possible. You can use a sharp knife for this (just as my great-grandmother always did), or you can use a mandoline (my choice) or food processor to speed up the task.

Next sprinkle the cucumbers liberally with kosher salt and toss to coat. Then place them in a colander, and set it in your kitchen sink to drain for about 30 minutes. Gently squeeze the cucumbers dry in a clean kitchen towel, then transfer them to your salad bowl.

Asian Cucumber Salad Dressing Recipe Ingredients

The Asian cucumber salad dressing recipe comes together with just 4 ingredients, starting with rice vinegar, the secret to its bright, tangy flavor. I grabbed a bottle of rice vinegar in the Asian aisle at the grocery store, along with a bottle of dark sesame oil.

A little dark sesame oil (made from toasted sesame seeds) goes a long way, packing tons of nutty flavor. But don't be afraid to go for the larger bottles of each -- I predict this yummy Asian side dish is going to be on repeat this summer!

To the rice vinegar and toasted sesame oil, we'll just add a little sugar and salt for balance, producing a light and bright Asian vinaigrette. Whisk it all together and drizzle it over your cool, crisp, thinly sliced cucumbers.

PRO TIP: Marinated salads like this always improve over time. Refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes after preparing to allow the flavors to develop, and it will keep for at least five days in the refrigerator. Or so I've heard -- leftovers are usually gone by the next morning in our house!

Asian Cucumber Salad With Sesame Oil & Seeds

If you want to keep your Asian cucumber salad super simple, you can serve it as is. ButI like to finish the salad off with some toasted sesame seeds. In this case, I used black sesame seeds, because they look so striking against the pale cucumbers, but yellow sesame seeds will do just fine!

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Simple Asian Cucumber Salad

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 medium English cucumbers
¼ cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt + additional to taste
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

Wash the cucumbers and slice them very thin with a mandoline.
Sprinkle the sliced cucumbers with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, mix, and place them in a colander. Set it in your kitchen sink to drain for about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk together the rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar in a medium bowl.
Gently squeeze the cucumbers dry in a clean kitchen towel, then transfer them to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to combine.
Season with additional salt to taste, and garnish with toasted sesame seeds, as desired.

Have you tried this recipe?

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More Asian Side Dishes

Looking for more Asian side dish recipes? I've got a few more tried and true recipes:

Coconut Milk Rice -- this simple coconut milk rice recipe is a total family favorite. Savory, with a very mild coconut flavor, it’s also the perfect base for tacos, fried rice, meal prep bowls, and more!
Broccoli Slaw with Ramen Noodles -- a crunchy and colorful ramen noodle salad that's perfect for potlucks and beyond!

Try one or all with these pork lettuce wraps or this peanut butter chicken recipe for a tasty and easy Asian-inspired dinner!

I'd love to see how your Asian cucumber salad turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!

5-Ingredient Simple Asian Cucumber Salad - Unsophisticook (2024)