Asian cucumber sesame salad (Printable format)

Crisp cucumbers tossed in a tangy sesame and rice vinegar dressing with fresh aromatics.

# List of ingredients:

→ 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
13 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

# 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, garlic, ginger, and black pepper until the sugar dissolves completely.
03 - Add the dressing and green onions to the cucumbers. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Transfer to a serving bowl. Top with toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, and red pepper flakes.
05 - Serve immediately, or chill for 10-15 minutes to enhance flavors and allow dressing to fully penetrate the cucumbers.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's ready in the time it takes to boil water, yet tastes like you spent real effort.
  • The sesame oil does something almost magical, turning plain cucumbers into something you'll crave.
02 -
  • That five-minute salt step actually matters—it removes excess water that would otherwise dilute your carefully balanced dressing, a lesson I learned through a soggy mistake.
  • Sesame oil is powerful stuff, so resist the urge to double it; the one tablespoon is already exactly enough to perfume the whole bowl.
03 -
  • Grate your ginger on a microplane right before you use it, because pre-grated loses its sharpness and you'll end up tasting a ghost of what you meant to add.
  • Keep the dressing separate until the last moment if you're bringing this to an event, then toss it together just before serving so everything stays crisp and alive.
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