Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad. A crispy, refreshing and spicy cucumber salad. Seasoned with soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, green onions, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds and chili oil. Perfect as a side dish.
When I was younger, cucumber was my favourite vegetable and maybe to this date! It’s crispy, crunchy and super hydrating. I love the subtle taste of this water packed vegetable and how it can easily be dressed up to be elevated in taste.
I love this Asian cucumber dish because it’s super easy to make! If you have an Asian pantry, you’ll have most of the ingredients to make this and most of the ingredients are accessible. This sweet and spicy asian cucumber salad recipe is great served with any entrée of your choice like a tasty protein with some rice or noodles.
Easy Spicy Cucumber Salad
My Asian cucumbers recipe is so simple and swift! The only part that takes time, which is optional by the way, is making thin slices into both sides of the cucumber but again OPTIONAL! You can just quickly slice up your cucumbers as you normally would, soak them in salt then rinse with cold water a few times. Then premix your sauce, pour over top and gently mix. That it’s!
Can I slice the cucumbers thinly without the spiral?
Yes! Feel free to do that for this Asian spicy cucumber recipe. I just wanted to share a fun and creative way to showcase these mini cucumbers.
What you’ll need
For this recipe you’ll need the following Asian cucumber salad ingredients:
- Mini cucumbers, or 6 Persian cucumbers
- Salt, to drain water
Sauce:
- Regular soy sauce
- Garlic, minced
- Rice vinegar
- Chili oil (store bought or check out my Chinese Chili Oil recipe)
- Sugar
- Sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Green onions, finely sliced
Brief Steps & Visuals
Below are brief steps with visuals to show you how to make Asian spicy cucumber salad. Please scroll down to the recipe card below to find full instructions and details.
Place one cucumber between two chopsticks that you don’t mind nicking up (like takeout chopsticks). Make thin diagonal slices on the top. Then flip the cucumber over and do the same on the other side. Then cut cucumber into halves. Transfer to a large bowl. *Refer to video below for better visuals. Note: Do not cut them in on a straight angle or the spiral will not work.
Sprinkle salt over cucumbers and gently massage into them. Let cucumbers soak in salt for 5 minutes (no more than 10 minutes or they will break down). Rinse with cold water at least 3-4 times to completely remove the salt. Strain and set aside.
Combine sauce ingredients in a separate bowl.
Pour sauce over cucumbers and gently mix. Enjoy!
Cooking Tips
Below are tips on making this Asian spicy cucumber salad recipe:
Use chopsticks to make spiral cucumbers
If you want to make your cucumbers into fun spirals (optional step), use a pair of chopsticks that you don’t mind slightly nicking up, like takeaway chopsticks. Place the two sticks beside both sides of your cucumber and begin slicing on an angle with your knife (must be on an angle or it won't work otherwise). Flip over and do the same on the other side. Do it slowly and with time you’ll get faster!
Pre-mix the sauce
It’s always best to pre-mix your sauce before adding it to large ingredients for mixing. By pre-mixing, we are ensuring an even distribution of ingredients maximizing taste!
Soak cucumbers in salt for extra crunchy texture!
The longer you soak your cucumbers (no more than 10 minutes please) the crunchier and crispier they will be! Just make sure to rinse your salted cucumbers WELL! At least 3 times.
Rinse salted cucumbers well!
Since we’re adding more sodium, it’s super important to rinse off the salt from the cucumbers after they have been sitting in it. This step is crucial, or you will have very salty tasting cucumbers which makes me sad.
FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about this Asian spicy sesame cucumber salad recipe:
How do I make my crunchy Asian cucumber salad even crunchier?
Salt! The longer you soak them in salt, the crunchier they will be as the salt draws the water content out of the cucumber. But don’t overdo this (10 minutes at most) or your cucumber will actually break down when you go to rinse it.
Other side dish recipes you may like!
If you enjoyed this cucumber salad recipe:
Korean Cucumber Salad
Spicy Smacked Cucumber Salad
Korean Potato Salad
Try it!
Well, I hope you give my Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad a try! It always excites me when you make my recipes and I hope this is one you try.
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Made this recipe & loved it?
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Take care,
Christie
*This post for my quick Chinese cucumber salad contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also earn from qualifying purchases through additional affiliate programs
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 6 Mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers
- 2 tsp Salt to drain water
Sauce:
- 1 tbsp Regular soy sauce not light or dark!
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 1 tbsp Chinese chili oil
- 1 tbsp white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 1 tsp Sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp green onion finely sliced
Instructions
- Wash cucumbers and cut off the ends.
- Place one cucumber between two chopsticks that you don’t mind nicking up (like takeout chopsticks). Make thin diagonal slices on the top. Then flip the cucumber over and do the same on the other side. Then cut cucumber into halves. Repeat for remaining cucumbers. Transfer to a large bowl. *Refer to video below for better visuals. Note: Do not cut them in on a straight angle or the spiral will not work.
- Sprinkle salt over cucumbers and gently massage into them. Let cucumbers soak in salt for 5 minutes (no more than 10 minutes or they will break down). Rinse with cold water at least 3-4 times to completely remove the salt. Strain and set aside.
- Combine sauce ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Pour sauce over cucumbers and gently mix. Enjoy!
NOTES
Love it !!!
I am so happy you enjoyed my recipe! Thanks for making it! 🙂
Yum!
So glad you enjoyed it Liz! Thanks so much for your review and for making my recipe!
Very good! This was my first time using chili oil. This one had whole peanuts in it. Pretty darn good. Since I’ve recently fallen in love with avocado, I add a whole avocado after the sauce soaked into the cucumbers. Very good! Creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory. Thanks for this awesome recipe. A great addition to Korean night at our house.
I am so happy to read this and glad you enjoyed it! How exciting for your first time using chili oil, isn't it such a wonderful ingredient. The avocado addition sounds amazing as well! Thanks for making my recipe 🙂
How do you make this ahead?
You can make it one day ahead but just note that there will be more water content the next day since the soy sauce is high in sodium forcing more water out from the cucumber as days pass.
so yummy and best of all easy to make!!!
Thrilled to read this! So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for making my recipe Elly!
Hi! Really want to try this but worried it might be too spicy 🙁 is there anything I can use to substitute for the chilli oil? Thanks!
Hi there! I would recommend omitting the chili oil altogether and if needed, add more soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar to your sauce prior to adding to the cucumbers. Hope this helps!
The allure of this dish was instant. I was looking for a side dish to accompany some marinated (lime juice, smashed garlic cloves and sea salt) chicken thighs I was going to grill and “bang” this was it. So easy to make and delicious! Even the chili oil went unnoticed by a partner who usually avoids spicy food. Make it, enjoy it. It’s a winner!
Thank you so much for making my recipe and I'm so glad you enjoyed the ease and deliciousness of this dish! I truly appreciate your kind review on my blog and I hope you have a fantastic day 🙂
Mmmm, so good!
Happy to find this recipe.
Thank you for making my recipe! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Have a lovely day.
Absolutely delish!!! I knew I’d love it so I doubled the recipe. GONE! Now I need more cucumbers! Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Thank you so much for making my recipe! So glad you enjoyed it well 🙂
I made this for the first time today and it was a big hit with my kids. My 12 year old son asked when he can have it again. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
I'm so glad you and your kids enjoyed it! Thank you so much for making my recipe 🙂
Delicious!!! Very easy to make. I did half sugar and left out sesame oil because my boyfriend doesn’t like it - and it is addicting!
Hi Lizzie, thank you so much for making my recipe and I'm so glad you enjoyed my cucumber salad! Have a great day! - Christie
Made this with zucchini was fantastic. I also added some diced Asian pear. My new fav salad.
Thanks so much for making my recipe Trina! So glad you enjoyed it!