Description
Refreshing cucumber salad from Southeast Asia combines crisp vegetables with tangy dressing. Zesty herbs and sesame seeds deliver complex flavors that will delight your palate with authentic regional ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 Persian cucumbers
- 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) sugar
- 0.75 tablespoons (¾ tbsp) light soy sauce
- 0.75 tablespoons (¾ tbsp) rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) chili oil
- 0.5 tablespoons (½ tbsp) sesame oil
- 0.5 teaspoons (½ tsp) salt
- 0.5 tablespoons (½ tbsp) sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preparation: Slice cucumbers diagonally into thin, uniform ovals, creating elegant, elongated pieces.
- Salting: Sprinkle salt over cucumber slices, allowing moisture to release and intensify the vegetable’s natural crispness during a 20-minute chilled rest.
- Draining: Strain accumulated liquid, rinse briefly under cool water, and gently pat dry to remove excess salt while maintaining delicate texture.
- Dressing Fusion: Combine sesame oil, light soy sauce, granulated sugar, rice vinegar, chili oil, and toasted sesame seeds in the mixing bowl, whisking to create a harmonious, vibrant dressing.
- Final Assembly: Toss cucumber slices with the prepared dressing, ensuring each piece is evenly coated, then transfer to a serving dish and garnish with additional sesame seeds for a visual and textural flourish.
Notes
- Precision Slicing Matters: Uniform 1/8-inch cucumber cuts ensure consistent texture and even marination, preventing uneven saltiness or softness.
- Salt Technique Transforms Texture: Salting draws out excess water, creating a crunchier, more concentrated cucumber flavor while preventing watery dressing.
- Quick Rinse Is Crucial: Removing excess salt prevents over-seasoning and maintains the salad’s delicate balance of flavors and crisp texture.
- Immediate Serving Maximizes Enjoyment: Dress and serve the salad right away to preserve its fresh, vibrant taste and prevent soggy cucumber slices.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg