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You are here: Home / Recipes / Easy Asian Cuisine Recipes

Easy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe (Spicy)

📋 Modified: Nov 3, 2024 Published: Jul 24, 2023 by 👩🏻‍🍳 Jami Powell · This post may contain affiliate links · 💬 2 Comments

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Looking to add a burst of spicy flavors to your next meal? Search no further! This Easy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe (Spicy) is a delightful and refreshing side dish that will go well with any Asian meal. With its unique blend of ingredients and a touch of heat, it's the perfect dish for summer barbecues or as an easy weeknight dinner.

Spicy Cucumber Salad ready to eat with garnish.

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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.

If you like Asian Cuisine, you may also like our Poke Bowl with Seared Ahi Tuna.

Jump to:
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions & Variations
  • How to Make Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
  • Expert Tips for Success
  • Storage
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Related
  • More Recipes You'll Love ♥️
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Share Your Thoughts

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.

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.

How to Make Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

Spicy cucumber salad process shot 1 prepare the dressing

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.

Spicy cucumber salad process shot 2 whisk the dressing.

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.

Spicy cucumber salad process shot 3 add in the vegetables.

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.

Spicy cucumber salad process 4 tossed and add cilantro

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.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the 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.

Can I use regular cucumbers for this recipe?

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.

Why do you salt cucumbers?

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.

Spicy Cucumber Salad Close Up Feature Image

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  • Creamy Cucumber and Radish Salad
  • Tomato and Avocado Side Salad
  • Village Salad

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📖 Recipe

Spicy Cucumber Salad ready to eat with garnish.

Easy Asian Cucumber Salad (Spicy)

Jami Powell
Looking to add a burst of spicy flavors to your next meal? Search no further! This Easy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe (Spicy) is a delightful and refreshing side dish that will go well with any Asian meal. With its unique blend of ingredients and a touch of heat, it's the perfect dish for summer barbecues or as an easy weeknight dinner.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Salad
Cuisine Asian
Servings 6
Calories 54 kcal

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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Video

Notes

Storage Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Freeze This dish is not freezer friendly.
Substitutions
    • 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.
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Nutrition The provided nutrition information is only an estimate.
Adjustments Cooking time may need to be adjusted based on the geography of the area (high vs. low elevation), cookware (stoneware vs traditional bakeware), and outdoor temperature if grilling.

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 337mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 31IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.3mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @powell.family.cooking on Instagram

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Comments

  1. Nicholas Benedetto says

    August 16, 2023 at 4:58 pm

    3 stars
    Looks like the best one yet. Still think it needs celery, like the red peppers too. Green olives and I'm sold.

    Reply
    • Jami Powell says

      August 27, 2023 at 2:40 pm

      Thank you, Nicholas. Feel free to add them! I always encourage everyone to adjust recipes to their own taste preferences. 😊

      Reply
4 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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