A crispy, refreshing and spicy Asian cucumber salad seasoned with soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, green onions, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds and chili oil. This easy side dish is ready in 20 minutes with simple and minimal ingredients!
Jump to:
What is it
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad features crunchy cucumbers seasoned in a tasty garlicky, soy, vinegar dressing with chili oil. This simple side dish serves best with rice and your favourite proteins making it easy to work into a weekly rotation.
I enjoy making this Chinese dish for meal prep because it's easy and it lasts 3-4 days in the fridge. Perfect for those busy weeknights when I need a fast vegetable side dish. The best part is that it requires no reheating!
This cucumber recipe is inspired by my traditional Chinese smashed cucumber salad. You also don't have to make spiral the cucumbers - simply slice them thinly.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
Note: Most Western or Asian grocers will carry these ingredients. You may find some at your select grocery store or online, like on Amazon.
- Mini cucumbers (aka Persian cucumbers): I recommend these cucumbers as they have a refreshing crunch! Or substitute with English cucumbers or Japanese cucumbers. Avoid cucumbers with seeds, like American cucumbers.
- Salt: to drain excess liquid in the cucumbers to make them crunchier!
Dressing
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce of your choice.
- Rice vinegar: Or substitute with white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or Chinese black vinegar
- Chili oil: store bought or check out my homemade Chili Oil recipe for spicy flavors! Or substitute with chili garlic sauce, gochugaru, or red chili flakes.
- Sugar: or substitute with honey, maple syrup, or any sweetener of your choice.
- Sesame oil: if you're allergic, omit altogether or substitute with more chili oil.
- Sesame seeds: omit if you're allergic
- Green onions
Expert Tips
- Short on time? Thinly slice the cucumbers and skip the spiral!
- Use chopsticks to make fun spiral cucumbers (optional). Use a pair of chopsticks that you don’t mind slightly nicking up, like takeaway chopsticks. Make sure to slice the cucumbers on an angle or you won't get the spiral effect.
- Rinse salted cucumbers well! Because 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.
- Combine the sauce before adding cucumbers. By pre-mixing, we are ensuring an even distribution of ingredients maximizing taste!
- For more flavor, let the cucumbers marinate for another 10 minutes in the sauce in the fridge before enjoying.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make spicy Asian cucumber salad:
Prepare Cucumbers
First on a cutting board, place cucumber between two chopsticks that you don’t mind nicking up (like disposable takeout chopsticks).
Then make thin diagonal slices on the top on angle. Flip the cucumber over and do the same on the other side. Do not cut them in on a straight angle or the spiral will not work. Alternatively, thinly sliced cucumbers will work fine as well.
Then cut cucumber into halves.
Now you have spiral cucumbers. Transfer to a large bowl. Refer to video below for better visuals.
Salt Cucumbers and Make Dressing
Next sprinkle salt over cucumbers and gently massage into them. Let cucumbers sit in the salt for 5 minutes at room temperature to remove excess moisture (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 excess water and set aside.
Then in a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients.
Dress Cucumbers
Finally pour the dressing over cucumbers and gently mix.
Serve and enjoy!
Storage
- Leftovers will last up to 3-4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Please note with time, the cucumbers will become saltier due to the dressing.
- Freezer friendly? I would not suggest freezing this cucumber salad as the freezer air over softens the cucumber texture.
Pairing Suggestions
This serves best with egg rolls, crab rangoons, egg drop soup, white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice or fried rice, Mongolian Chicken, Honey Sesame Chicken, Bang Bang Shrimp, Gochujang Chicken, Soy Garlic Tofu and more!
FAQ
Yes, thin cucumber slices will work fine for this spicy cucumber salad! I just wanted to share a fun and creative way to showcase these mini cucumbers.
Yes, any long slender seedless cucumbers will work.
Other recipes you may like
📖 Recipe
Easy & Quick Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 6 Mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers
- 2 teaspoon Salt to drain water
Dressing:
- 1 tablespoon Regular soy sauce
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Chinese chili oil
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoon 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. Do not cut them in on a straight angle or the spiral will not work.)Alternatively, you can thinly slice your cucumbers too.
- 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 dressing ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Pour dressing over cucumbers and gently mix. Enjoy!
Kim
So easy and absolutely DELICIOUS! This will be a staple in my house going forward. Easy to take to the office for a quick snack/lunch and it stays great for a couple of days.
christieathome
So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks for making it!
tay
can you make this with regular sized cucumbers?
christieathome
Yes 🙂
Atlas
Absolutely amazing! Talk about an explosion of flavors in your mouth, the sugar balances the spic e from chili oil perfectly. My husband loved it so much, that he drizzled the sauce over his grilled chicken as well. Thank you for sharing Christie, we can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
christieathome
Thanks so much for sharing your kind review Atlas! So glad you and your husband both enjoyed my recipe so much! I hope you enjoy my other recipes as well 🙂 Have a lovely day!
Renee
Made this to have with some pan fried gyoza. It’s absolutely delicious! so full of flavour, especially with homemade chilli oil. Will make this again and again. Thank you!
christieathome
So happy to read this kind comment! Happy to hear you enjoyed it with some delicious gyoza, Renee! Thanks for making my recipe 🙂
Trina
Made this with zucchini was fantastic. I also added some diced Asian pear. My new fav salad.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe Trina! So glad you enjoyed it!
Lizzie
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!
christieathome
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
LLL
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.
christieathome
I'm so glad you and your kids enjoyed it! Thank you so much for making my recipe 🙂
Veronica
Absolutely delish!!! I knew I’d love it so I doubled the recipe. GONE! Now I need more cucumbers! Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe! So glad you enjoyed it well 🙂
J L
Mmmm, so good!
Happy to find this recipe.
christieathome
Thank you for making my recipe! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Have a lovely day.
D. Jay
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!
christieathome
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 🙂
Michael
Made this following your recipe (no fancy cut) just thin sliced. Took me literally 5 minutes minus the salt and rinse time. Perfect! Thank you! Will be making this on a regular basis. Love it.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Michael! So glad you enjoyed my simple recipe 🙂
Sylvia
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!
christieathome
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!
Elly
so yummy and best of all easy to make!!!
christieathome
Thrilled to read this! So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for making my recipe Elly!
Nancy
How do you make this ahead?
christieathome
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.
ThatTeowonna
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.
christieathome
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 🙂
Liz
Yum!
christieathome
So glad you enjoyed it Liz! Thanks so much for your review and for making my recipe!
Eti
Love it !!!
christieathome
I am so happy you enjoyed my recipe! Thanks for making it! 🙂
LS
I didn't have Chinese chili oil so I used sambal olek instead and it still turned out great. This will definitely be a go-to.
christieathome
So happy to hear that it worked out well with sambal oelek as well 🙂 Thank you so much for making my recipe!
Shimeka
This recipe is amazing, it's definitely my new favourite way to eat cucumbers!
Christie Lai
So happy to read this Shimeka! Thanks for leaving a review and for making my recipe 🙂