I love cucumber, it’s so light, fresh and healthy. However, cucumber by itself doesn’t have much of a flavor.
One of my favorite recipes for cucumber is Asian cucumber salad, which is packed full of flavors and utterly delicious.
The key to making a great Asian cucumber salad lies in the dressing. My recipe is garlicky, spicy, savory, with just a touch of sweetness and tartness. The cucumber is crunchy so every bite is bursting with flavors.
Chill the cucumber in the refrigerator for the best results. Asian cucumber salad is a great appetizer, which help to stimulate a healthy appetite. Try my recipe and I am sure you will like it.
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Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe
Asian Cucumber Salad – healthy cucumber salad with Asian spices. So refreshing and easy. A perfect appetizer for any meals!
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber, about 8 oz
- 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon Korean chili powder or regular chili powder
- 1 teaspoon chili oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- sesame seeds for garnishing
Directions
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1Rinse the cucumber thoroughly and slice it into pieces. Add the salt to the cucumber, stir gently to combine well. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
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2Combine the garlic, vinegar, sugar, chili powder, chili oil, and sesame oil together, stir to mix well. Make sure that the sugar is completely dissolved.
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3Drain the salt water from the cucumber. Add the dressing to the cucumber, toss well. Top with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Cathy
If not using the Korean chili powder, is the chili powder you refer to the one (such as McCormick’s) that is mixed with cumin, onion, and garlic powder, or a hot chili powder such as one used in Indian recipes?
Rasa Malaysia
Pure chili powder.
Erin
I smack the cucumbers on the side with a cleaver before slicing. The cracks are rough and cling wonderfully to the sauce!
Paul Whitson
I love the contrasts of cool, crunchy & spicy. Paul
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks Paul!
Dom
Garlic in ingredients but not shown in method.
Rasa Malaysia
Fixed.
Winifred Watson
What can I use in place of sesame oil. My hubby is allergic.
Rasa Malaysia
Just skip it.
Rasa Malaysia
You can skip it.
Gina
Wow this looks amazing! It immediately caught my attention while wasting time scrolling on pinterest lol I am not a huge salad fan (tho I’m a vegan and folks think that is all we eat) this looks like one I can add to my very few salad recipe collection ?
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Gina, this recipe is very good!
NGO
In the ingredients you have mentionned garlic but in the method, I don’t find garlic. Could you explain how to use the garlic in this recipe ? Thank you.
Becky Miller
Are you using a english cucumber or a regular cucumber? This looks just like the kimchee I buy : ) can’t wait to make it
Rasa Malaysia
Regular cucumber or Persian cucumber.
Betty
Is the quantity for the sesame oil (mentioned in the directions) the same as chilli oil 1 teaspoon. Going to try tonight.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes.
Rasa Malaysia
It’s 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil. Sorry for the omission I have updated the recipe.
Donata ( tina) Rossi
Wow it’s delicious
Andrew Koizumi
I made the cucumber salad twice, once using Bee’s recipe as published here, and another time using Maangchi’s recipes. Although both dishes were good, I prefer Maangchi’s recipe.because it is more authentic Korean dish.
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Andrew, my recipe is not exactly Korean, even though I use Korean chili powder. Chinese and Taiwanese make similar cucumber salad.