Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe | The Modern Proper (2024)

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June 10, 2024

Cool and crisp cucumber half-moon slices soak up a simple, sweet-sour Japanese dressing in this vibrant, refreshing, quick cucumber salad recipe.

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  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
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  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Salads
  • Dairy-Free
  • Gluten Free
  • Low-Carb
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • 30 Minutes

Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe | The Modern Proper (1)

Cucumber: Always a Garnish, Never a Superstar.

Not that cucumber is upset, or anything. Crisp, crunchy, near-thirst-quenching cucumber is just one of those wallflower vegetables—an afterthought, a sandwich topper, rubbery salad bar filler. Well, no more! Fresh from the garden (or the grocery store!) in the middle of July, a cucumber plucked at peak ripeness is a vegetable that deserves your undivided attention. Our Asian-inspired spicy cucumber salad celebrates this oft-overlooked summer vegetable in all of its delicately sweet, crisp and refreshing glory.

How To Cut Cucumber for Salad

Crisp, cool cucumber is a solo act here, so select the very best ones you can find—look for taut skin and a really firm feel. And you’ve got cucumbers fresh from your garden, even better! Here’s how to prep them for this easy cucumber salad:

  • Peel. Just a few swipes and your cucumbers are suddenly so much more presentable. If you have older kids, this is a good job for them!
  • Scoop! With a small spoon (or you could even us a measuring spoon) scrape out the cucumber seeds.
  • Chop! Slice the cucumber into perfectly bite-sized half-moons.

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Asian Cucumber Salad Dressing

No whisks are dirtied in the making of this dressing. We love that this Japanese-inspired cucumber salad“dressing” is mixed by tossing it with the cucumbers, so there are no extra bowls or jars to clean. This pale dressing sings with vivid, straightforward flavors to compliment, rather than overwhelm the freshness of the cucumber. You’ll need:

  • Rice vinegar. We love rice vinegar for cucumber salad, it is a staple in our homes! Mild and delicately sweet, it’s a must-have if you want to make Asian food at home, and it’s inexpensive, too. If you don’t have it in your pantry, it’s time you did!
  • Sugar. Sounds a bit weird maybe, but the simple sweetness of granulated white sugar is magical with the delicate flavor of cucumber and mellows out the bolder flavors of this otherwise-savory cucumber salad dressing.
  • Red pepper flakes. Everything’s better with bite, but if you fear heat, it’s OK to skip these.
  • Sesame oil. Toasted (the dark stuff) or untoasted will both work—if you want a bolder, nutty flavor, go for toasted. If you’re looking for a milder oil, untoasted it is!

How To Make Cucumber Salad

This easy cucumber salad recipe is one of those dishes that we almost feel silly sharing a recipe for—it’s just so simple. However, the secret to making the very best cucumber salad is letting the salad rest for a while before serving. So here’s the best way to make it:

  • Hunt down a neighbor with an overgrown cucumber patch. Ask nicely to raid it in exchange for a bowl (or two) of this delicious cucumber salad.
  • Prep the cucumber. Better yet, have your kids do it! All that peeling and scooping is a sure-fire cure for summertime boredom.
  • Toss it with the cucumber salad dressing and green onions.
  • Chill. Give this salad at least ten minutes on the countertop, or an hour in the fridge, before serving so that the cucumber salad can marinate in all of those lovely Asian flavors.
  • Sprinkle it with the crushed peanuts right before serving so they stay nice and crunchy (they’ll get soft and weird if they sit in the dressing too long).

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Tools

Easy Cucumber Salads Play Well With....

Almost anything! A salad that doesn’t wilt is a summer salad to love—and to make over and over again. Crunchy and refreshing, people just don’t seem to get tired of this salad, us included! Serve it with:

  • Hoisin Glazed Pork Chops
  • Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
  • Spatchco*cked Grilled Chicken
  • Honey-Mustard Salmon
  • Thai Chicken Pizza
  • No Noodle Pad Thai

If This Isn’t the Best Cucumber Salad You’ve Ever Made....

...we’ll be really surprised! We’ve fallen hard for this cucumber salad recipe and we hope you do too! Snap a photo of your finished salad and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

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Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe | The Modern Proper (2024)

FAQs

What is Asian cucumber salad made of? ›

Place cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt; set aside to drain for 1 hour. Whisk vinegar and sugar together until sugar is dissolved. Add sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds; stir. Rinse salt off cucumber slices by running under cold water; place in a large bowl with sliced red chile peppers.

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting soggy? ›

First, unless you can find seedless cucumbers, you must eviscerate them. Cucumber seeds, slimy, springy and evasive, will ruin the texture of any salad, soup or dip. Then, you must salt them to draw out as much liquid as possible.

What does Asian salad contain? ›

Asian salad is usually an American-style green salad (sometimes it's a cabbage slaw) topped with fried wontons or chow mein noodles, sometimes canned mandarin oranges and chicken, too. The dressing is often a vinaigrette with some combination of sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger or plum sauce.

Why do you salt cucumbers before salad? ›

Adding salt to sliced cucumbers draws out the extra moisture in the vegetable, through a process called osmosis. Over time, the salt absorbs the water from the cucumber. What you're left with is a slightly drier cucumber with a more concentrated flavor (that won't make your salad watery).

Why are Japanese cucumbers so good? ›

Japanese cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamins K, A, and C, folic acid, potassium, and silica, which is a trace mineral that helps strengthen connective tissue. Japanese cucumbers in pickled form are an essential component in Japanese cuisine.

What is the Bella Hadid salad? ›

Here's how to make the viral Bella Hadid salad with arugula, cucumber, bell pepper, avocado and parmesan all drizzled with lemon juice, olive oil and a balsamic glaze. It's light, refreshing and so easy to whip up!

Why soak cucumbers in salt water? ›

Cucumbers are often soaked in salt water to remove some of the naturally high water content. Cucumbers will otherwise give up water and dilute the salad dressing. Unpeeled cucumbers are higher in nutritional value as fiber and vitamin A are lost by peeling.

Why is my cucumber salad bitter? ›

A cucumber's bitterness is caused by cucurbitacin, a bitter chemical that protects the plant from predators. Usually, cucurbitacin stays in the stem and leaves, but it can work its way into the fruit. A cucumber's bitterness is caused by cucurbitacin, a bitter chemical that protects the plant from predators.

What can you put on cucumbers to make them taste good? ›

Salt – It draws moisture out of the cucumbers, giving them a crisp, pickle-like texture. It also makes the flavors in this salad pop! Fresh dill and chives – Dill is a classic ingredient in a cucumber onion salad, as its sour flavor pairs perfectly with the sweet and tangy vinegar dressing.

What salad dressing is in the Asian salad kit? ›

Try a fusion of diverse flavors and textures in your next salad. This Chopped Asian Salad Kit packs a crunchy punch with crisp romaine and green cabbage, sweet carrots, green onions. Topped with crispy wontons, sliced almonds, and delicious Asian sesame vinaigrette for added layers of flavor and crunch.

What is in the Asian Zensation salad? ›

* The flavorful Zalad features Zaxby's famous fried Chicken Fingerz™ or grilled chicken on freshly tossed mixed greens, red cabbage, carrots, and crispy wonton strips, topped with Asian slaw and drizzled with a honey sesame Teriyaki glaze starting at $9.95.

What dressing is in Taylor Farms Asian salad? ›

Savoy cabbage, Asian style sesame dressing (expeller pressed soybean oil, water, sugar, soy sauce [water, soybeans, wheat, salt], distilled vinegar, sesame seed oil, salt, pineapple juice concentrate, sesame seeds, xanthan gum, spice, carrageenan, oleoresin rosemary), Green cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Wonton strips ( ...

How do you draw moisture out of cucumbers? ›

When you salt cucumber pieces or slices and let them sit for 30 minutes in a colander, the salt draws out excess moisture which then drains away. This means that the cucumber will release less water into whatever dish you're adding it to, such as tzatziki, tabbouleh, Greek salad, or potato salad.

What does a cucumber salad contain? ›

This cucumber salad recipe features thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion, fresh dill, and a sweet and tangy vinegar dressing. Cooling and refreshing, this summer salad is a perfect BBQ or picnic side dish.

What is the Asian cucumber looking vegetable? ›

Bitter melon: Bitter melon looks like a cucumber with light green, warty, wrinkled skin.

Are Asian cucumbers good for you? ›

The Chinese cucumber has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine and has been used to reduce fevers, swelling and coughing. A starch extracted from the root is used for abscesses, menstrual problems, jaundice, and abnormally large amount of urine production.

What is the difference between Japanese cucumbers and regular cucumbers? ›

The Japanese cucumber has several advantages over common cucumbers. It is slender, thin-skinned, void of developed seeds, never bitter and entirely edible. The average harvested length is about four inches, while the cucumber is still young. Its skin is forest green and smooth with longitudinal grooves.

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