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    Home » Salads » A Simple Cucumber Salad

    A Simple Cucumber Salad

    Published: Nov 21, 2013 · Modified: Aug 20, 2024 by Linda Baker · This post may contain affiliate links

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    This recipe for a Simple Cucumber Salad is just that...simple. And refreshing. Using fresh cucumber, along with some simple Asian flavors, makes a great cooler for your palette when eating spicy Asian fare or anytime you want a refreshing salad to enjoy.

    A refreshing serving of cucumber salad in a glass bowl.

    Why you want to make this Simple Cucumber Salad

    Here are three reasons to make this cucumber salad when serving spicy Thai-styled or other spicy foods:

    1. Cooling Effect: Just like raita in Indian cuisine, cucumber salad helps cool down the heat from dishes like Sesame Crusted Yellowtail Tuna with Two Sauces or Salmon with Thai Red Curry Sauce, offering a refreshing break from the spice.
    2. Flavor Balance: The crisp, mild taste of cucumber complements the bold, spicy flavors of Thai dishes, balancing out the meal and enhancing your overall dining experience.
    3. Simple and Quick: This cucumber salad is easy to prepare, making it a convenient side dish that adds a cooling element to your spicy Thai-inspired meals without requiring much effort.
    Jump to:
    • Why you want to make this Simple Cucumber Salad
    • A Bit of Cucumber Background
    • Ingredients and Method
    • Want it Spicy?
    • Storage
    • A Simple Cucumber Salad - Recipe Card

    A Bit of Cucumber Background

    A cucumber is technically a fruit, though it's often grouped with vegetables. As a member of the gourd family (like pumpkins, which are also fruits), cucumbers have been cultivated since the Middle Ages. They're easy to grow and can either sprawl on the ground or climb a trellis. With decent soil, water, and sun, they thrive. Plus, bees love cucumber flowers, ensuring natural pollination.

    Cucumbers come in three main types: slicing, pickling, and burpless, but there are hundreds of varieties within each category. For this recipe, you can use any slicing or burpless variety. I used a hothouse English cucumber (those long ones wrapped in plastic), but in the summer, I prefer to use whatever's growing in my garden.

    Ingredients and Method

    Thinly sliced English cucumber on a cutting board.

    I use my mandolin to keep all my cucumber slices the same thinness. A sharp knife will work if you don't have a mandolin or refuse to use one. I like the mandolin because it keeps all the slices the same thinness, but a little variation isn't going to hurt anything.

    Thinly sliced red onion on a cutting board.

    Next, use a sharp knife to thinly slice the onion, if using. While the onion is optional, I think it adds a nice flavor and crunch. If you are not a fan of raw onion, try soaking in some salted ice water for a few minutes, such as I did in this recipe for Shaved Asparagus Salad with Fennel. No harsh bite!

    Cucumbers and red onion in a bowl being tossed with sugar and salt.

    Adding salt and sugar directly to the cucumber helps to soften them and helps release their juices. While many recipes I read, instruct you to drain the cucumbers of their juice, I encourage you to allow the juice to remain to add to the cooling cucumberness of the salad. So toss the salt and sugar with the onions and cucumbers and allow it to rest for about 5 minutes.

    Now add the rest of the ingredients. Keep in mind the following:

    • Use a gentle hand with the sesame seed oil as well. You want to have the ying/yang of sweet and sour and sesame seed oil is very powerful.
    • Add just a few drops to round out the acidity of the rice wine vinegar.
    • Taste and adjust.
    A white plate with s freshly made simple cucumber salad on it.

    Want it Spicy?

    If you are serving this Simple Cucumber salad as a side to a non-spicy dish, you can make the salad spicy! It's as easy as:

    • Add some red pepper flakes to the dressing.
    • Add some Sriracha chili to the dressing.
    • Thinly slice some red jalapeno and add it to the salad.

    Storage

    This cucumber salad will only hold for a day or so in the refrigerator as it will become very soft and slightly slimy if left longer. But because it's so simple to make, you can easily make it fresh whenever you want it!

    A bowl and plate of a simple cucumber salad with onions and cucumber.

    A Simple Cucumber Salad - Recipe Card

    LindySez
    This recipe for a Simple Cucumber Salad is just that...simple. And refreshing. Using fresh cucumber, along with some simple Asian flavors, makes a great cooler for your palette when eating spicy Asian fare or anytime you want a refreshing salad to enjoy.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Salads, Side Dish
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 18 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Mandoline
    • Chefs Knife

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 English cucumber (or other if desired) thinly sliced
    • ½ of a red onion quartered and thinly sliced, (optional)
    • Salt to taste (about ½ teaspoon is where I start)
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar Flavored or unflavored
    • Dash sesame seed oil
    • Dash red pepper flakes optional
    • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds or as desired

    Instructions
     

    • Toss the cucumber and red onion, if using, with the salt and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes then add the other ingredients. Mix well. Allow to sit for about 10 minutes for all the flavors to blend. Taste and adjust with salt and sugar as needed. Serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 18kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gSodium: 178mgFiber: 1g
    Keyword Asian cucumber salad, easy Asian salad, fresh cucumber salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Sesame Crusted Yellowtail Tuna with Two Sauces
    Salmon with Thai Red Curry Sauce »

    Comments

    1. Cher says

      January 31, 2014 at 4:28 pm

      This really looks great and as usual, I cannot wait to try it!

      Reply
    2. Elle says

      January 31, 2014 at 4:53 am

      English or european cucumbers as they call them in this neck of the woods work best for me Linda, less giant sized seeds, plus I'm used to them! This is definitely going on my lunch menu, it looks so light and tasty.

      Reply
      • LindySez says

        January 31, 2014 at 5:43 pm

        We have a tendency here to just call them "hot house" cucumbers, but I know them as English cucumbers. I love their tiny seeds and that you can eat the skin without peeling, especially when they are thinly sliced like they are in this dish. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Jessica says

      January 30, 2014 at 12:24 pm

      This looks so easy! I am putting it on my menu for next week! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Cristina says

      December 06, 2013 at 4:50 pm

      any variation of cucumber is fine with me, but had not had this one, quite tasty!

      Reply
      • LindySez says

        December 06, 2013 at 5:20 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lindy.

    Welcome to LindySez! I'm Lindy, a self-taught home chef with a passion for helping others feel confident in the kitchen. I believe cooking should be approachable, fun, and above all, delicious!

    My mission is to guide anyone—whether you grew up on fast food or rarely cooked at home—to create amazing meals with ease. Through simple recipes and practical tips, I’ll show you how to turn everyday ingredients into flavorful dishes.

    Cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating—let’s make it enjoyable together!

    More about me →

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