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Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe

Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe

5 from 20 reviews

This Japanese Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and simple dish that makes a perfect side for any meal. The crisp cucumbers are marinated in a tangy-sweet dressing, with hints of soy sauce and sesame, creating a delightful combination of flavors and textures.

Ingredients

Scale

Cucumber Salad:

  • 2 medium-sized Japanese or English cucumbers

Dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds (toasted, optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
  • Thinly sliced seaweed (such as wakame or nori, for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash and Prepare Cucumbers: Start by washing the cucumbers thoroughly. You can peel them if desired, but leaving the skin on adds texture and color.
  2. Slice Cucumbers: Slice cucumbers thinly using a knife, mandoline slicer, or vegetable peeler. Alternatively, cut them into julienne strips or use a spiralizer for a different presentation.
  3. Salt Cucumbers: Place cucumber slices in a bowl, sprinkle with salt, toss well to coat evenly, and let sit for 10-15 minutes to draw out excess moisture.
  4. Drain Excess Water: After the resting period, drain any excess water from the cucumbers by gently squeezing or patting dry with paper towels.
  5. Make Dressing: In a bowl, mix rice vinegar, sugar, soy sauce until sugar dissolves. Add sesame oil if desired, then add the dressing to the cucumbers and toss to combine.
  6. Add Garnish: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the salad and garnish with seaweed if preferred.
  7. Marinate: Let the salad chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.

Notes

  • You can adjust the sweetness or acidity of the dressing to suit your taste.
  • Feel free to customize the salad with additional ingredients like sliced radishes or shredded carrots.

Nutrition

Keywords: Japanese Cucumber Salad, Cucumber Salad Recipe, Asian Salad, Japanese Salad