Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe
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.
- Author: moretti
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Marinating
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Vegetarian
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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Drain Excess Water: After the resting period, drain any excess water from the cucumbers by gently squeezing or patting dry with paper towels.
- 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.
- Add Garnish: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the salad and garnish with seaweed if preferred.
- 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
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 45 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Japanese Cucumber Salad, Cucumber Salad Recipe, Asian Salad, Japanese Salad