Take it from someone who isn’t the biggest fan of cucumbers, that this is one addicting Thai cucumber salad! It’s got everything I love in a good salad and more. Let’s start with the texture – every bite is loaded with a nice and satisfying crunch. And that dressing! It’s both sweet and tangy and has a little bit of heat from the red pepper flakes, more sesame flavor from the sesame oil and to round it all out umami from a few teaspoons of fish sauce. But don’t worry, if the f word makes you want to avoid making this delicious salad. You can easily leave the fish sauce out and move right along like it was never meant to be there in the first place. Removing the fish sauce also makes this salad vegan-friendly so everyone can enjoy it. And I know what you’re thinking, it’s the last week of September, why the heck are we talking summery Thai cucumber salad recipes when the rest of the world is diving headfirst into all the fall comfort foods? The reality is that though my friends in the north are getting their first taste of a chill in the air, your friends down south are still working up a sweat with no end in sight. In fact, I feel like the tropical storm/depression that hit us last week ended up making the temperature (and lord, that humidity) even worse.
What do you need to make Thai cucumber salad?
Hothouse cucumbers (or English/Persian cucumbers) Thinly sliced red onions Chopped peanuts Toasted sesame seeds
Do I have to use peanuts in the Thai cucumber salad recipe?
No, you absolutely do not! If you have an allergy or just don’t care for them, this salad is just as delicious without them! I don’t always use them! A note on the peanuts: I found that if you anticipate leftovers, it’s best to add peanuts to your own serving of salad right before consuming. The peanuts get weirdly soft if they sit in the dressing for too long, but pleasantly enough, the cucumbers do not soften!
What do you need to make the dressing for a Thai cucumber salad?
Rice vinegar Granulated sugar Salt Toasted sesame oil Fish sauce Red pepper flakes
How to make the best Thai cucumber salad:
If you like this cucumber salad recipe, you might also like:
Spicy Thai Carrot Soup Thai Butternut Squash Red Curry Chopped Thai Chicken Salad with Skinny Peanut Dressing (meal prep) Garlic Lovers Thai Basil Chicken Thai Green Curry Chicken Soup Rainbow Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing
Leftover salad can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 2 days. If you anticipate leftovers, consider adding the peanuts to individual servings rather than adding them to the entire batch. I find the peanuts do get soft as they sit in the dressing overnight.
