Asian Cucumber Salad | Very Fresh And Crisp

A fresh and flavorful Asian Cucumber Salad is perfect to bring to the next neighborhood potluck…or to have in your own fridge as a healthy addition to a meal. This post will show you how to – quickly and easily – make it!

Cucumbers are a late spring to mid summer “fresh out of the garden veggie” that I can’t get enough of. 

I love the crunch and the mild flavor that cucumbers have. They are great in sandwiches, on a salad, and sliced into infused water (think cucumber and mint – ah-mazing!). 

Cool and refreshing, cucumbers are 90% water. They’ve got calcium, iron and phosphorus, and they are very diet-friendly (15 calories in a medium-sized cucumber!) for those you looking to find foods that help you lose weight. Vitamins A and C are abundant in this crunchy snack, too.

We’re going to put together in just 10 minutes, a delicious and refreshing Asian Cucumber salad that is sure to be one of your new faves. Let’s go!

How To Choose Cucumbers

Choosing fresh and firm cucumbers is key to a delicious Asian Cucumber Salad.

Keep the following points in mind…

• If the cucumber is shriveled or bruised, don’t buy it
• Aim to choose a firm cucumber without any yellow
• Stick to medium sized cucumbers as opposed to larger ones which may be bland or bitter
• The cucumbers should not have an odor; this could mean spoilage

What Spices And Flavors Go Well With Cucumber?

Although this Asian Cucumber Salad is my absolute favorite way to use cucumbers (2nd place goes to cucumbers in infused water), there are many flavors that pair well with this veggie.

• Vinegar and vinaigrette
• Plain Greek yogurt with a few spices
• Pair with sweet bell peppers for a clean eating snack
• Garlic and onions
• Spices like tarragon, dill and basil

What Is In This Asian Cucumber Salad?

Simple and easy. Delicious and fresh. That’s how I describe this Cucumber Asian Salad. Be prepared to fall in love with this recipe! Here is what’s in it:

• 2 large cucumbers
• ⅓ cup of rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp of honey
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 1 ½ tsp fresh ginger grated (see ginger’s benefits here!)
• 1 tsp low sodium soy sauce
• ½ tbsp sesame seeds

How Do You Keep Asian Cucumber Salad From Getting Watery?

Don’t slice the cucumbers super thin, or they can become watery. Thin is fine, just not super thin! I scoop out the seeds which also helps keep the wateriness at bay. Some people will also salt the cucumbers to draw out the water (like you can with eggplant before making Eggplant Parmesan). It’s not a necessity – I find removing the seeds does the trick.

How Do You Keep Cucumbers Crispy?

How do I keep cucumbers fresh while waiting to use them?  I simply…

1. Wash them: I wash the cucumbers and if I see a soft spot, I eat that cucumber the same day. They are amazing with hummus!
   
2. Dry them: I dry the cucumbers thoroughly. Then I wrap them in paper towel or a dish towel and put them in the fridge tucked into a paper bag.
   
3. Not too cold: Don’t put your cukes in the coldest part of the fridge. Cold temps can cause chilling injuries and that can speed up decay. Don’t store them near melons or tomatoes either. Stored properly, they should keep for a week.

Do You Peel Cucumbers Before Slicing?

It’s not necessary to peel cucumbers before slicing. You’ll see in this recipe, I partially peel them and I also remove the seeds. Then I slice them horizontally and thinly.

But if you want to leave the peels on your cucumbers, it’s perfectly fine to do that if the skins are thin and not too thick. Some cucumbers will come waxed; this is a coating put on the vegetable to protect it during transport and to keep it fresh. 

Wash your cucumbers before using to make sure there is no bacteria on the wax. The wax is safe, but if you are not keen on it, peel the cucumber before putting it in your recipe.

To note, Japanese, English or Persian cucumbers have the thinnest skin. Kirby and regular (garden cucumbers) may have a thicker skin that can sometimes be bitter.

Best Toppings For Asian Cucumber Salad

I like my Asian Cucumber Salad kinda simple and topped with sesame seeds. But it’s easy enough to add a little variety if you want!

• Fresh cilantro
• Chopped green onions
• Thinly sliced radishes
• Avocado cubes
• Nuts like peanuts or almond slivers
• Chile peppers

More Healthy Salad Recipes

You gotta love salad, right? Try these!

• Healthy Broccoli Salad With Greek Yogurt Dressing
• Chicken Cobb Mason Jar Salad
• Beet & Goat Cheese Salad With White Wine Vinegar Dressing
• Leftover Turkey Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette
• Chopped Thai Salad With Peanut Dressing
• Strawberry Fields Salad With Chia Seeds Vinaigrette

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

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Asian Cucumber Salad

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 10 mins

 

Are you looking for a fresh and flavorful salad that works as a side with a lot of dishes? This Asian Cucumber Salad is perfect to bring to the next neighborhood potluck or to have on hand in your own fridge as a healthy addition to a meal.

Categories: Salad

Difficulty: Easy

Keyword: sweet cucumber salad, sweet cucumber salad recipe, sweet cucumber salad recipes

Servings: 6

Calories: 30 kcal

Author: Lacey Baier of A Sweet Pea Chef

Ingredients

• 2 large cucumbers
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp raw honey
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/2 tsp fresh ginger grated
• 1 tsp soy sauce low sodium
• 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, honey, salt, soy sauce and ginger and mix well.

2. Partially peel the cucumbers, leaving alternating strips of peel on each cucumber (see photos). Slice cucumbers in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully remove the seeds and discard. Slice cucumbers horizontally and very thinly. Add cucumber slices to vinegar mixture and toss to coat.
3. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to one hour.

4. Serve cold.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Nutrition Facts

Asian Cucumber Salad

Amount Per Serving (0.3 cup)

Calories 30 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 253mg11%

Potassium 143mg4%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 72IU1%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.