Love quick and easy side dish recipes? Then try my Quick Pickled Red Onions and my Cucumber Avocado Salad!
What Is Japanese Cucumber Salad?
This super simple and delicious side dish consists of sliced cucumbers tossed with an Asian-style dressing made of low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil (toasted is preferred), brown sugar, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Then, it’s topped with crunchy sesame seeds, and voila! Your Asian cucumber salad is done! Allow it to marinate for 30 minutes, or so, if time allows, but you can definitely dig in right away. This is the perfect summer side dish because it’s light, refreshing, and super flavorful. It’s super satisfying without weighing you down! I love to serve this at weekend barbecues with grilled chicken or steak kebabs, roasted asparagus, quick pickled red onions, and some blueberry cobbler for dessert. Heaven! This would also be a great meal-prep dish and weeknight recipe, especially if served with some Asian-style grilled chicken or fish, roasted broccoli, and some fluffy brown rice.
variations
Looking for more Asian flavor? Add a splash of fish sauce or chopped Thai basil for more umami-goodness! Add more veggies like sliced or shredded carrots, sliced onions, or sliced bell peppers. Make this homemade cucumber salad more filling by mixing in some nuts like chopped roasted peanuts or sliced almonds! Turn this into a salad with your favorite leafy green lettuce, kale, and/or spinach, along with some protein like my chicken katsu. Yum! Spice it up with some sliced jalapenos or serrano peppers in place of the crushed red pepper flakes!
how to make easy cucumber salad
All you need to do to make this Asian Cucumber Salad at home is to slice some fresh cucumbers to your preferred thickness and toss them with the prepared Asian-style marinade. Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving, and enjoy! It is easy to customize the dressing to your liking. If you want it sweeter add more sugar, less heat add more crushed red pepper flakes!
Wanting to make this for meal-prep? Go for it! Store the assembled cucumber salad in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 2 days. Any longer than that, and the acids in the dressing will break down the cucumbers and make them mushy.
what to serve with cucumber salad
Mongolian Beef Honey Sesame Chicken Salmon Teriyaki Sesame Beef Fried Rice Szechuan Beef Vegetable Spring Rolls
More Side Dish Recipes To Try
Quick Pickled Red Onions Cucumber Avocado Salad Air Fryer Vegetables Broccoli Salad Berry Fruit Salad Berry Spinach Salad with Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette
