Spicy Cucumber Salad Recipe
A refreshing and flavorful Spicy Cucumber Salad featuring crunchy Persian cucumbers dressed in a tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet Asian-inspired dressing. Perfect 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, Side Dish
- Method: No-cook, Mixing
- 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 (or tamari/coconut aminos for 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, dry, and cut the ends off the cucumbers. Place a cucumber between two chopsticks and cut thin diagonal slices at a 45° angle on top, without cutting all the way through due to the chopsticks limiting the knife depth. Flip and make cuts at a 90° angle to create a spiral effect. Avoid cutting straight across or again at 45°. Cut the spiral cucumbers in half and place them into a large mixing bowl. Alternatively, thinly slice the cucumbers on a mandolin.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos), rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar), sesame oil, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, and red chili flakes. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference for balanced spice and sweetness.
- Assemble the Salad: Pour the dressing over the prepared cucumbers and gently toss to coat evenly, taking care not to break the cucumbers. Garnish with the sliced green onion and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh, spicy crunch!
Notes
- Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce to make the salad gluten-free.
- Adjust the amount of chili flakes based on your heat preference.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup.
- Try adding fresh herbs like cilantro or mint for an extra flavor dimension.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 100g)
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 2.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Spicy cucumber salad, Asian cucumber salad, gluten free salad, easy side dish, quick cucumber recipe, healthy salad
Find it online: https://kitchenbyrita.com/spicy-cucumber-salad-recipe/
