Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad (2024)

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!

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 homemadeChili Oilrecipe 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’ssuper important to rinse off the saltfrom 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.

FAQ

Other recipes you may like

• Korean Cucumber Salad
• Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad

Easy & Quick Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

Christie Lai

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.

Enjoyed my recipe?Please leave a 5 star review (be kind)! Tag me on social media @christieathome as I'd love to see your creations!

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 2834mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg