This Easy Cucumber Salad will be your go to for a quick asian cucumber salad that’s ready in minutes! Loaded with garlic, chilli paste, soy sauce and scallions, it’s SO GOOD! We love it with any protein main dish, or on its own for a light and tasty lunch. You’ll just need a few minutes for this!
Cucumbers are super refreshing and as the internet sensation guy says–you can easily eat a whole cucumber! The trick is to really flavor up that veggie so you can eat it and feel like you had a treat!
Similar to our Asian Cucumber Salad which was a hit on social media, thanks to that fun spiral shape! We use lots of Asian flavors here. The beauty of this salad is just miss, toss and enjoy!
Why This Easy Cucumber Salad
- As the name implies, it’s seriously EASY. A really go to, super easy recipe.
- Loaded with delicious Asian zing flavors.
- It pairs so well with so many other dishes.
- You basically need 10 minutes start to finish.
- This salad feels so hearty, yet it’s really light and healthy.
- A great way to use cucumbers!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cucumbers. While you can use any type, we used the large English cucumbers. Make sure they’re plum and fresh.
- Scallions. We love the mild taste of scallions with the cucumbers, however my daughter loves this recipe with diced onions.
- Minced Ginger and Garlic. You can use fresh or jarred, but fresh is best. These infuse the cucumber with so much flavor.
- Soy Sauce and Rice Vinegar. These are the main sauces for the dressing, and they add a tangy umami flavor.
- Honey. For sweetness, but you can use maple syrup too. If you love spice, use our Hot Honey Recipe.
- Chilli Paste. Optional, but that kick of spice is SO GOOD! You can try Korean chilli paste, or our Chili Oil Recipe.
- Salt. To season the cucumber salad.
How to Make Cucumber Salad
Prep the Cucumbers
- Start by scorching the the cucumbers using a fork. This trick I learned a long time ago from Jamie Oliver as he made a Greek salad using this technique. Scorching the cucumbers will allow the dressing to seep in and infuse the salad with flavor.
- Slice the cucumbers and you’ll notice they have the small dents where the dressing will be soaked in.
Mix the Dressing
- Now you’re going to take a deep bowl, a salad bowl. And add in all the dressing ingredients together. Use a spoon or whisk to blend in all the ingredients together until smooth.
- When all the dressing is ready, you’re going to add in the sliced cucumbers. And add in the minced scallions.
- Toss well this easy cucumber salad until you see all the cucumbers are coated in dressing. And now it’s ready to serve! Sprinkle with sesame seeds and you can enjoy right away.
This is how simple and easy to pull this salad together–and it pairs so well with so many dishes!
What to Serve with this Cucumber Salad
Tips For BEST Cucumber Salad
- Any type of cucumber works here, so pick what you have on hand.
- Scorching the cucumbers infuses it with more dressing. You can alternatively cut them into spirals using this tutorial from the Asian Cucumber Salad. The spiral shape also infuses more dressing into the cucumber.
- Use honey or maple syrup or agave for sweetener, it will add the hint of taste in your salad. So if you don’t like the flavor of maple for example, don’t use it here use honey.
- The dressing is best when has a kick of spice, however you can skip the spice by using a sweet chilli paste.
- Toss the cucumber into the dressing right before serving to avoid it getting soggy.
How to Store Leftovers?
It’s recommended to eat this salad the day of, as leftover usually loose the crunch. The cucumbers will taste amazing, almost like a kimchi, but won’t be as crunchy. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Can You Make this Salad in Advance?
It’s best to toss the cucumbers with the dressing right before serving. However you can easily make the dressing in advance and keep it in the fridge in a sealed mason jar for up to 3 days.
Easy Salad Recipes
Asian Cucumber Salad
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Ahi Tuna Salad
Panzanella Salad
Taco Salad
Wedge Salad
Watermelon Salad Wedges
Easy Cucumber Salad
This Easy Cucumber Salad will be your go to for a quick asian cucumber salad that’s ready in minutes! Loaded with garlic, chilli paste, soy sauce and scallions, it’s SO GOOD! We love it with any protein main dish, or on its own for a light and tasty lunch. You’ll just need a few minutes for this!
Ingredients
Dressing
-
1
clove
garlic
minced -
1
teaspoon
ginger
minced -
2
Tablespoons
rice vinegar -
1/2
tablespoon
soy sauce
low sodium -
2
teaspoons
honey
or maple syrup -
1
tablespoon
chilli paste
spicy or sweet -
1
teaspoon
sesame oil -
1
Tablespoon
sesame seeds
Instructions
-
Start by scorching the the cucumbers using a fork. This trick I learned a long time ago from Jamie Oliver as he made a Greek salad using this technique. Scorching the cucumbers will allow the dressing to seep in and infuse the salad with flavor.
-
Slice the cucumbers and you’ll notice they have the small dents where the dressing will be soaked in.
-
Now you’re going to take a deep bowl, a salad bowl. And add in all the dressing ingredients together. Use a spoon or whisk to blend in all the ingredients together until smooth.
-
When all the dressing is ready, you’re going to add in the sliced cucumbers. And add in the minced scallions.
-
Toss well this easy cucumber salad until you see all the cucumbers are coated in dressing. And now it’s ready to serve! Sprinkle with sesame seeds and you can enjoy right away.
Recipe Notes
Tips For BEST Cucumber Salad
- Any type of cucumber works here, so pick what you have on hand.
- Scorching the cucumbers infuses it with more dressing. You can alternatively cut them into spirals using this tutorial from the Asian Cucumber Salad. The spiral shape also infuses more dressing into the cucumber.
- Use honey or maple syrup or agave for sweetener, it will add the hint of taste in your salad. So if you don’t like the flavor of maple for example, don’t use it here use honey.
- The dressing is best when has a kick of spice, however you can skip the spice by using a sweet chilli paste.
- Toss the cucumber into the dressing right before serving to avoid it getting soggy.
How to Store Leftovers?
It’s recommended to eat this salad the day of, as leftover usually loose the crunch. The cucumbers will taste amazing, almost like a kimchi, but won’t be as crunchy. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Can You Make this Salad in Advance?
It’s best to toss the cucumbers with the dressing right before serving. However you can easily make the dressing in advance and keep it in the fridge in a sealed mason jar for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Cucumber Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 48
Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 0.3g2%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 129mg6%
Potassium 138mg4%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 62IU1%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 33mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
