This Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe is quick to prep, light and refreshing, and finished with just enough heat to balance rich or savory meals. Made as a simple cucumber salad recipe with crisp cucumbers and a chili-forward dressing using pantry staples, it's an easy side that works well with weeknight dinners, noodle bowls, or takeout-style meals at home.
If you like this recipe, you may also like our Hot Chili Oil Noodles or this Cucumber Salad with Peanut Dressing.
The spicy Asian cucumber salad is a popular dish rooted in Korean cuisine, known as "Oi Muchim." This delightful recipe takes advantage of the thin-skinned English cucumbers, which contribute to its refreshing crunch. The dressing, made with sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, spicy chili crunch, garlic clove, ginger, etc. infuses the cucumber sticks with a bold blend of sweet, savory, and heat in every bite.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Flavorful: The combination of flavors will have you coming back for seconds.
- Easy: With easy-to-find ingredients, it's a simple recipe for beginners.
- Seasonal: Its refreshing crunch makes it an ideal dish for warm summer days and family get-togethers.
Key Ingredients
- Cucumber: Crisp and refreshing, English cucumbers with their thin skin are the star of this salad, providing a delightful crunch with every mouthful.
- Red Onion: This colorful and mildly tangy onion variety adds a pop of color and a subtle sweet note to the salad.
- Scallions: Also known as green onions, they bring a fresh and mild onion flavor, perfectly complementing the other ingredients.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: With its mild acidity, rice wine vinegar adds a delightful tang to the dressing, balancing the flavors.
- Soy Sauce: As a classic Asian condiment, soy sauce provides a savory umami taste that enhances the overall depth of the salad.
- Dark Soy Sauce: The dark soy sauce imparts a richer and slightly sweeter flavor, enhancing the color and taste of the dressing.
- Sesame Oil: This aromatic oil brings a nutty and toasty essence, characteristic of Asian cuisine, to the salad.
- Sugar: A touch of sweetness balances the flavors and helps to round out the dressing, harmonizing with the other ingredients.
- Garlic: The minced garlic adds a pungent and aromatic kick, infusing the salad with its robust flavor.
- Ginger: Grated ginger contributes a zesty and warming element, enhancing the dressing with its unique spiciness.
- Spicy Chili Crunch: This exciting ingredient brings the heat to the salad, providing a delightful kick and adding an addictive element to the dish.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: A creative and unexpected twist, this seasoning adds a burst of diverse flavors and a satisfying crunch to the salad.
- Fresh Cilantro: The fresh cilantro leaves add a refreshing herbal note, brightening up the dish and adding a pop of green color.
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Cucumbers: If you can't find English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers, Korean cucumbers, Kirbyx cucumbers, or Japanese cucumbers are great substitutes and can usually be found in Asian markets.
- Spice: Try using spicy chili flakes or Korean chili powder.
- Sugar: Replace with honey for a touch of sweetness.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: Incorporate toasted sesame seeds instead for a nutty taste.
- Add-ins: Add sliced red pepper or shredded carrots for extra color and crunch.
- Method - Use traditional sliced cucumbers in thin or thick rounds. You could also try spiral cucumbers or smashed cucumbers for a fun twist.
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How to Make Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
Step One: Prepare the Dressing
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, prepare the dressing by combining rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and spicy chili crunch. Whisk the ingredients together until well combined. Set aside.
Step Two: Prepare the Cucumber Sticks
Next, wash and trim the ends of the cucumbers. Cut each cucumber into quarters lengthwise, and then slice each quartered cucumber stick into smaller, approximately 3-inch long pieces.
Step Three: Combine the Dressing and Cucumbers
Place the cucumber sticks, diced scallions, and thinly sliced red onion into the bowl with the prepared dressing. Gently toss the cucumbers to ensure they are evenly coated with the spicy dressing. For the best results, let the salad marinate in the fridge for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to blend together.
Step Four: Serve and Enjoy
After marinating, sprinkle the Everything Bagel Seasoning over the cucumber salad, and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves just before serving.
Serve the spicy Asian cucumber salad as a refreshing side dish or a light appetizer.
Expert Tips for Success
👩🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!
✔️ DO Sprinkle the cucumber slices with a pinch of salt and let them sit for a few minutes. Afterward, rinse and pat them dry to remove any excess salt.
✔️ DO Avoid marinating the salad for too long.
Storage
Store any leftover spicy cucumber salad in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. *Note that the cucumbers may release some excess liquid, but you can drain it before serving. This dish is not freezer friendly.
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the spicy cucumber salad in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. However, for the best texture, it's best to consume it within 2 days.
While English cucumbers are recommended for their thin skin and crispness, you can use regular cucumbers or other cucumber varieties if that's what you have available.
Salting cucumbers is done to remove excess moisture from the vegetable, as cucumbers have a high water content. This helps improve their texture, making them crisper and firmer.
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📖 Recipe
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Airtight Container
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Paper Towels (Optional)
Ingredients
- 2 Jumbo English cucumbers or 3 regular size
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- 1-2 scallions diced
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce for added richness, can substitute with regular soy sauce
- 1.5 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 2 tablespoon spicy chili crunch adjust according to your spice preference
- Everything bagel seasoning to taste
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, prepare the dressing by combining rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and spicy chili crunch. Whisk the ingredients together until well combined. Set aside.
- Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and trim the ends. Cut each cucumber into quarters lengthwise. Then, slice each quartered cucumber stick into smaller pieces, about 3 inches long, creating cucumber sticks.
- Add the cucumber sticks, diced scallions, and thinly sliced red onion into the bowl with the prepared dressing.
- Toss the vegetables gently in the dressing, making sure they are evenly coated. Let the cucumber mixture marinate in the dressing for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Sprinkle the Everything bagel seasoning over the cucumber salad, adjusting the amount to your taste preference, then garnish with fresh cilantro leaves just before serving.
- Serve the Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad immediately as a great side dish or a light appetizer.
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Notes
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- Cucumbers: If you can't find English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers or Japanese cucumbers are excellent substitutes.
- Spice: If you don't have spicy chili crunch, try using spicy chili flakes or Korean chili powder.
- Sugar: Replace with honey for a touch of sweetness.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: Incorporate toasted sesame seeds instead for a nutty taste.
Nicholas Benedetto says
Looks like the best one yet. Still think it needs celery, like the red peppers too. Green olives and I'm sold.
Jami Powell says
Thank you, Nicholas. Feel free to add them! I always encourage everyone to adjust recipes to their own taste preferences. 😊