Asian-Inspired Cucumber Salad with Toasted Sesame Seeds

There are a bunch of simple & delicious cucumber salads listed as summer recipes that are served across China.

With a simple sauce and some added aromatics, this cucumber dish will quickly become a part of your summer cooking routine. There is something satisfying about creating and serving up these simple salads that star one humble ingredient.

The following recipe makes about 4 medium-sized salads.

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There are a bunch of simple & delicious cucumber salads listed as summer recipes that are served across China.

With a simple sauce and some added aromatics, this cucumber dish will quickly become a part of your summer cooking routine. There is something satisfying about creating and serving up these simple salads that star one humble ingredient.

The following recipe makes about 4 medium-sized salads.

Ingredients

• 6 small-sized Persian cucumbers (washed)
• ½ tsp Kosher salt
• 1 scallion (finely sliced)
• 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Chinkiang (Chinese black vinegar)
• 1 Tbsp white granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 Tbsp Sambal (or chili-garlic paste)
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro (roughly chopped)
• 2 Tbsp white sesame seeds (lightly toasted, as garnish)

Instructions 

• Wash the small cucumber and slice them down the middle.
• Cut each halved cucumber into 4 sections, resulting in 8 pieces per cucumber.
• Lightly salt the cucumber sections with some Kosher salt and allow to drain in a bowl.
• When the cucumbers have rested for 30 minutes, drain the excess water and return to a large mixing bowl.
• Finely slice the scallion, and add with the cucumber.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the minced garlic, sesame oil, vegetable oil, rice vinegar, Chinkiang vinegar, white granulated sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Sambal, and dried red pepper flakes.
• Add this prepared sauce mixture to the large mixing bowl with the cucumbers and scallions.
• Add the chopped cilantro, and toss to combine.
• Taste the mixture, and add more soy sauce, sugar, or vinegar to taste.
• Serve the cucumber salad in bowls, and garnish with the toasted sesame seeds.

Notes

You can store in the fridge, although note that the cucumbers will continue to drain water and soften up even more after they have been salted. If you are going to serve this salad, it is easy to make fresh.

This mixture would be great if made with some added Sichuan peppercorns, which you can find online or in selected specialty stores.