Description
A refreshing and tangy spicy cucumber salad featuring accordion-cut mini cucumbers, tossed in a flavorful dressing of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic, and chili flakes, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Scale
The Salad:
- 8 mini or Persian cucumbers
- 1 green onion, ends trimmed and finely sliced
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
The Dressing:
- 1 ½ tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminios (if gluten free)
- 1 ½ tablespoon rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon crushed or full red chili flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Accordion Cucumbers: Wash and dry the cucumbers, cut off the ends. Place each cucumber between two chopsticks and carefully slice diagonally at a 45° angle without cutting all the way through. Then flip and cut at a 90° angle likewise. Cut the spiral cucumbers in half and place in a large bowl. Alternatively, thinly slice cucumbers using a mandolin.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, and red chili flakes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Assemble the Salad: Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and gently toss to coat without breaking the cucumber pieces. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- If you don’t have mini or Persian cucumbers, an English cucumber can be used but sliced into bite-sized pieces rather than accordion style.
- For extra crunch, add ½ cup of chopped almonds, cashews, or peanuts.
- Serve the salad on a bed of chopped romaine, spinach, Boston lettuce, or iceberg for added volume.
- This salad pairs well with grilled chicken, air fryer chicken thighs, Asian chicken meatballs, teriyaki chicken, furikake salmon bowls, air fryer tilapia, or teriyaki salmon bites.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for best freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 60 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
