This salad is refreshing and simple to make. The Asian dressing is packed with umami. And I am little obbsessed with chili crisps and add it to almost everything. Absolutely love how this simple ingredtient has so much depth of flavour and elevates a dish. It was time we took a break from creamy Cucumber salad and tried this version. I was unsure how the family would like this salad because we are so used to the regular creamy version. In India, yogurt-based cucumber raita is part of an everyday meal. Surprisingly, it was received well. This salad is a refreshing side dish for a barbeque or a potluck. During summer, it is great because of the cucumber’s cooling properties. You can make this salad any time because the ingredients are easily available all year. Come summer, and we have some great dishes to help with your lunch/dinner ideas using cucumber. Try these Cucumber sandwiches on your next picnic or for high tea. Cucumber Strawberry Salad has cucumber paired with the sweetness of strawberry, another summer favourite.
Cucumber – Fresh crunchy ones for the best texture and least bitterness. You may use English, Persian cucumbers, Japanese cucumbers, or mini cucumbers instead. Onion– Thinly sliced. I prefer red onion. I sometime also skip red onion and use the white part of the the green onion. Green Onions – adds freshness and a crunch to the salad. Toasted sesame seeds – give a crunch and a nutty taste. Salt
Apart from these, you can add thinly sliced red pepper, chopped fresh cilantro, etc. Keep it simple and let the fresh veggies sign through.
Rice wine Vinegar – You can also substitute with White wine vinegar. Sesame Oil – I prefer toasted Sesame Oil. It gives a nutty flavor. Soy Sauce – Asian flavor is incomplete without soy sauce. You get the umami from Soy sauce. Sugar – To balance the sauce with some sweetness. I didn’t like the after taste of honey/ maple syrup in this recipe Chilli crisp– Look for one that is not too spicy, so that you can add a good amount of it for flavour without buring off your face with the heat.
I haven’t added any garlic, as chilli crisps has already garlic in it.
Prep
Cut – Using a kitchen knife or Mandoline slicer, slice the cucumber. Make sure the cucumber slices are not too thin, as they tend to wilt when comes in contact with salt. So to keep it crunchy, the thickness needs to 1/4 inch or a little more. Another popular version is to smash and cut cucumbers into chunks(a little messy but fun way to cut). Use a rolling pin or meat mallet to smash. Then cut into 1-inch chunks. Salt and drain- Gather the sliced cucumber in a bowl and sprinkle a pinch of salt on them. Toss them a few times to ensure the slices get uniformly salted. Place them in a colander and a bowl underneath to collect dripping water. Keep it for at least 20-30 minutes, then press gently with the back of a spatula to drain as much water as possible. While the cucumber rests, you can chop the onions into thin slices and the green onions into small rounds. Also, in a dry, hot pan, toast the sesame seeds. When the seeds turn light brown and fragrant, please turn off the heat, remove the sesame seeds, and keep them aside. In a small bowl, add the ingredients for the salad dressing. Whisk all until it blends. Taste the dressing and add more sugar; if the dressing is more salty and sour. Drizzle the salad dressing over them and toss again well, ensuring the dressing coats everything. For a Thai-inspired version – Skip chilli crisps. Add a splash of fish sauce, grated ginger (about 1/2 teaspoon) and some crushed salted peanuts instead of sesame seeds. Pinch of chilli flakes or a bird eye chilli for heat. For Korean version – With Korean recipes in all rage recently, give this salad a Korean twist. Replace chili crisp with gochugaru (Korean chilli powder)
Grilled – Summer salads like this complement grilled and roasted meats very well. Serve cucumber salad with Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Thai Grilled Chicken, Baked BBQ Chicken, and Baked BBQ Pork Tenderloin. Stir fry – Pair it as a side dish with other Asian main course Check out Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry, Thai Cashew Chicken Stir Fry, Chicken Meatballs with Asian sauce, and Chicken in Garlic Sauce Chinese. Noodles – As a salad with appetizing Asian noodles like Yaki Udon Noodles Stir Fry, Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles and Asian Shrimp Garlic Noodles.
