Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

This Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad is a delightful blend of coolness and crunch, spiced with just the right amount of heat! Juicy cucumber slices and crunchy cashews are coated in a tangy dressing featuring soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and chili garlic.

Jump to:

• Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe
• Table of Contents
• The ONE Thing That will Make this a Winner
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• How to Make Asian Cucumber Salad
• Step 1: Slice the Cucumbers
• Step 2: Salt and Rest
• Step 3: Whisk the Dressing
• Step 4: Toss It All Together
• Tip
• Different Flavors to Try
• FAQs
• What to Serve with Asian Cucumber Salad?
• More Simple Cucumber Recipes
• Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• More Easy Main Dishes Recipes:
• 📖 Recipe Card

The key to ensuring this salad remains perfectly crisp? A quick dusting of salt on the cucumbers ahead of time, which helps extract excess moisture and avoids a soggy salad.

Table of Contents

• The ONE Thing That will Make this a Winner
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• How to Make Asian Cucumber Salad
• Tip
• Different Flavors to Try
• What to Serve with Asian Cucumber Salad?
• More Simple Cucumber Recipes
• Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

Even though I adore creating quick stir-fries on hectic weeknights (my favorites being General Tso’s Chicken and Orange Chicken!), I often find myself longing for something lighter to balance the meal. This crunchy cucumber salad always fits the bill!

It’s not only incredibly quick to prepare—taking under 15 minutes—it can stay fresh in the fridge for up to two days when sliced correctly. I usually have all the essential ingredients stocked in my pantry, making it ready for a quick assembly at any moment!

The ONE Thing That will Make this a Winner

While salting the cucumbers may seem like an unnecessary step, it’s essential as it draws out moisture, leaving you with crisp, crunchy cucumbers. Neglecting this step will result in a watery salad!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.

• Cucumbers. Seedless mini cocktail cucumbers work perfectly, but larger seedless varieties like English or Persian will do too—just quarter them. If you plan to use standard cucumbers, be sure to remove the seeds first.
• Rice wine vinegar. This ingredient adds acidity and flavor, giving the salad an authentic Asian touch. You can swap it for white wine vinegar if necessary, though the taste will differ slightly.
• Sesame oil. A small amount is critical for that deep umami flavor. Toasted sesame oil is the preferred choice.
• Honey. Just a hint is needed to balance the vinegar’s tartness. Feel free to swap with sugar or omit for a lower-carb version.
• Chili garlic paste. This brings in a bit of spice. If you can’t locate it, use 1 teaspoon of Sriracha and a minced garlic clove instead.
• Ginger. While ginger paste is convenient, fresh ginger is also an option—just mince or grate it finely.
• Onion. Red onion is favored for its flavor and color, but white or sweet onions can be used too. Finely diced will help distribute the flavor evenly.
• Cashews. Roasted and salted cashews offer the ideal flavor and crunch. Add them just before serving to maintain their crispness. You can substitute with peanuts or almonds if desired.

How to Make Asian Cucumber Salad

Please refer to the recipe card below for the complete instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.

Step 1: Slice the Cucumbers

Rinse your cucumbers, then grab your mandoline or a sharp knife and slice them thinly into ¼- to ½-inch pieces.

Step 2: Salt and Rest

Transfer the cucumber slices to a large bowl and sprinkle generously with salt. Allow them to rest for at least 15 minutes; this process will draw out extra water. Pat them dry with a paper towel every few minutes to avoid excess moisture.

Step 3: Whisk the Dressing

In a medium bowl, combine the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, chili garlic paste, and ginger paste. Whisk until well blended, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl so the heavier ingredients thoroughly incorporate.

Step 4: Toss It All Together

Gently mix the cucumbers in with the dressing until every piece is evenly coated. If time allows, chill the salad for up to two hours to enhance the flavor melding.

Right before serving, stir in diced red onion and chopped cashews (or peanuts) to achieve that delightful crunch. Enjoy!

Tip

Salting the cucumbers is essential! If you don’t remove the extra liquid, your salad will end up watery rather than crunchy.

Different Flavors to Try

Looking to change it up a bit? Consider these flavor variations for a delicious twist.

• Thai. Incorporate Thai basil, peanuts, and cilantro.
• Korean. Substitute Gochujang for the chili garlic paste.
• Japanese. Add a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a dash of fish sauce.
• Feel free to include additional ingredients like green onions, carrots, cilantro, sesame seeds, or peanuts for new flavor creations.

FAQs

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting watery?
To prevent your cucumber salad from becoming watery, choose a seedless variety, sprinkle salt over the slices, and let them sit for 15 minutes. Remember to dry any excess moisture on the vegetables.

How do you make spicy cucumber salad?
For a spicy kick, add extra heat with red pepper flakes, chili paste, or your favorite spices.

What to Serve with Asian Cucumber Salad?

Pair this Asian Cucumber Salad with any of these tasty main dishes for a full meal.

You can’t go wrong with Shrimp Fried Rice, Pad Thai, or Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai. Teriyaki Salmon is guaranteed to impress.

For takeout favorites, go with General Tso’s Chicken, Crispy Orange Chicken, Instant Pot Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Shrimp Stir-Fry, or Vietnamese Spring Rolls.

More Simple Cucumber Recipes

If this refreshing salad has you in the mood for more cucumber dishes, consider trying one of these recipes next:

• Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad
• Cucumber Avocado Crab Salad
• Watermelon Feta Salad
• Overnight Refrigerator Dill Pickles
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Avocado Corn Cucumber Salad

Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound cocktail cucumbers, sliced into ¼-inch pieces
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha
• ¼ teaspoon finely minced fresh ginger
• ¼ cup diced red onion
• ¼ cup chopped roasted and salted cashews

Instructions

1. Add sliced cucumbers to a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for at least 15 minutes. Pat dry with a paper towel every few minutes to remove excess liquid.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, Sriracha, and ginger.
3. Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss until well coated. Add diced red onion and chopped cashews, mixing to combine.

Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how you liked it!

More Easy Main Dishes Recipes:

• Salisbury Steak Meatballs
• Crispy Zucchini Fritters
• Chipotle Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
• Tomato Bruschetta

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