This easy-to-make salad is one of my favorite go-to, quick summer sides. Now that the beautiful heirloom cucumbers in my garden are coming in strong, I have been enjoying this cool, crisp salad nearly every day. The many wonderful Asian-inspired flavors are all so perfectly well-balanced by the various fresh ingredients.
By allowing some of the liquid to drain off from the cucumbers, you can make this refreshing salad ahead and keep it chilled and not lose and of the amazing crispy crunch of the cucumbers. The cucumbers in my garden are quite high in water, as compared to other varieties, so I find this step particularly important when I use those. I also really love this salad with persian cucumbers, as they hold up super well and their flavor is incredible.
Serve this refreshing and light Asian inspired salad along side some steamed rice and maybe a little freshly sliced avocado, maybe your favorite fish, if you eat it – and you have yourself a deconstructed sushi plate, of sorts. No matter how you serve it or eat it, I can promise this salad will become a summer staple in your house, too!
This recipe was originally shared on the Free People blog BLDG25.
[print_this]Spicy Sesame Ginger Asian Cucumber Salad
serves 2 – 4
- 2 medium cucumbers, sliced thin into rounds or ribbons using a spiralizer or sharp knife
- fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon finely minced jalapeño pepper (optional)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
Spicy Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free soy sauce*
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey (or other sweetener)*
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- pinch or two red chile flakes
Place the thinly sliced cucumbers into a colander and sprinkle with a few pinches of sea salt, allow to sit while you prepare the other ingredients. (This is the so the water from the cucumbers doesn’t water-down the dressing).
While the cucumbers sit, make the dressing. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl. Whisk well to combine.
Once you are ready to assemble the salad rinse the cucumbers and pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Transfer to a large salad bowl.
Add the red onions and the minced jalapeño, half of the sesame seeds and half of the cilantro. Pour the dressing over top of the salad and gently toss to combine. Sprinkle the remaining sesame seeds and the remaining cilantro over top. Chill until ready to serve. Enjoy!
*NOTES:
You can also use: gluten-free tamari, liquid aminos or coconut aminos
To make vegan, opt for sugar, agave or other sweetener
Still Hungry for More?
If you are into cucumber salads in the summer, you should also try my Cucumber Ribbon Salad with Garlic Tahini Dressing another great spiralizer recipe
Note: This is the Spiralizer that I use.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links – your cost remains the same, but I earn a small percentage to help support this blog. Thank you!
12 Responses
I love this! Looks so refreshing and delicious for summer Beth!
http://youtube.com/addalittlefood
Thanks Millie!
Yum!!! Perfect for summer!!
Thanks, it really is. I have been obsessed with this.
THIS is why I love summertime. Cold, refreshing cucumber salads for the win! This looks amazing! I love that photo with the noodles mid-air!
I am with you – I plant cucumbers in the garden, for this very reason. And pickles, can’t forget the picked! Thanks so much! xo
That shot of the cucumber spiral is stunning! Salad sounds so great, I can’t wait until my cucumbers are ready!
Thanks so much Kate!! xo
This looks delicious. So perfect for summer. Love the combo of ginger and cucumber. I use the same spiralizer all the time at work, think I might have to invest in my own.
What a beautiful presentation! Cold cucumber salad is delicious, but I’ve yet to try spicy ginger cucumber salad.
i wish you wouldnt write a whole article and then to get the recipe we have to go to another website and reread the article or scroll down for it…..you can recommend the other website for their recipes but yours should be in your article……the recipe should be within the same article….not even on another page as some very good blogs do…..
i love your blog but it annoys me when bloggers try to push their readers to go to another site…. i dont bother with your recipe if i have to go to another site…..
this is just my opinion and how i would like it as your blog reader….
I am sorry you are unhappy that you have to click around for my free recipes. This blog is the way I earn my living and in doing so, I do have to do paid work with other websites from time to time, to offset all of the many costs involved in keeping this site – such as hosting, programming, buying ingredients, my time, photography equipment and more. For me to keep this website and all of my recipes free for you the readers, I have to be able to earn a living. If clicking one link to get a recipe is far too much work for you and you no longer want to read my website, I totally understand and I will be sorry to see you go. Have a wonderful day!