Spicy Cucumber Salad

People who love the combination of refreshing and spicy flavors will prefer to have spicy cucumber salad again and again. You can find this spicy salad in many Asian cuisines as a side dish.

The crunchy texture of the cucumber, the spiciness of chilies, and the zesty flavors of seasoning ingredients create a vibrant flavor profile. Asian cucumber salad is a light side dish that is a great alternative to heavy side dishes.

Therefore, you can easily pair it with heavy main dishes like rice, noodles, grilled meat, etc. This article presents an easy recipe for spicy cucumber salad. We recommend carefully reading this article from the beginning to the end to know all the details.

Why You Must Try This Recipe at Home?

This cucumber oriental salad is easy to prepare, and you require only a few common ingredients. Therefore, you can prepare the salad at home without any complications with minimal effort.

Moreover, this chili crunch cucumber salad is healthy compared to other mayonnaise-based salads. This healthy cucumber salad is packed with antioxidants, fiber, and also helps in hydration for our body. Preparing this salad at home will also be cost-effective for you.

On the other hand, adjusting the flavors and spice level is an extra benefit for you. You have the opportunity to make the salad according to your preferences in the homemade version.

We hope you properly understand the benefits of making this tempting spicy cucumber salad. You will be glad to know that you don’t require high cooking skills to prepare this salad. You can make the spicy salad with minimal skills and very little cooking time. Let’s start the process with ingredients.

Ingredients and Substitutions You Need for This Recipe

Cucumber and chili flakes are the main ingredients to prepare this spicy salad. You will also require a few other ingredients to flavor it up. Here are the required ingredients and available substitutions;

Ingredient	Amount	Substitution/ Notes
Cucumber	2 large-sized	Experts suggest using Persian or English cucumbers for the best texture
Chili flakes or chopped fresh chili	1 – 2 teaspoons	Chopped jalapeno or chili oil
Minced garlic	2 cloves	Garlic powder ( ½ teaspoon)
Rice vinegar	2 tablespoons	Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
Soy sauce	1 tablespoon	Tamari for gluten-free option
Sesame oil	1 tablespoon	Olive oil will work (sesame is a must for authentic flavor)
Sugar	1 teaspoon	Honey or maple syrup provides natural sweetness
Salt	½ teaspoon	Adjust to taste
Sesame seeds	1 tablespoon	Toasted sesame seeds are preferable
Chopped fresh cilantro	A handful	For garnishing

• Cucumber is the key to this recipe and gives a crunchy texture with proper hydration.
• Chili flakes or chopped fresh chilies provide the spicy kick.
• Garlic brings a satisfying aroma and texture.
• Rice vinegar gives a tangy flavor, which helps to balance the spice.  
• Sesame oil provides a rich flavor and helps to bind all the ingredients together. Oil also helps in nutrient absorption. 
• Sugar, salt, and soy sauce are the flavor boosters for this recipe.
• Sesame seeds and cilantro are used here as garnishing ingredients to create a fancy look.

How to Make Spicy Cucumber Salad: Simple 5 Steps

You may find many cucumber salad recipes on the internet. But this recipe is different. You will get a balanced flavor with proper nutrition after following our recipe. We have divided the whole recipe into 5 simple steps.

Step 1: Prepare the Cucumbers

Start the salad preparation by preparing the cucumbers.

• Wash the cucumbers and dry them using paper towels.
• Then, take a clean chopping board and a sharp knife.
• Now, slice them thinly or into half-moon shapes.

Note: You can create any shapes you like.

Step 2: Prepare the Dressing

The cucumber is ready. Now, it’s time to prepare the salad dressing.

• Before starting the preparation of the dressing, measure the ingredients precisely.
• Take a bowl and combine minced garlic, chili flakes, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and salt into the bowl.
• Mix them well using a whisk or spoon.
• Mix gently until the sugar dissolves perfectly.
• This step may take 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3: Combine the Cucumber and Dressing

Now, add the cucumber slices to the bowl of salad dressing. Toss well until the cucumbers are coated with dressing beautifully. 

Step 4: Rest the Salad

The spicy salad is almost ready. Resting the salad helps to meld the flavors perfectly. Therefore, you need to rest the salad for at least 10 minutes to get the authentic flavors. 

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Put the salad in a serving bowl and garnish with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro. Now, the spicy cucumber salad is ready to enjoy.

Chef’s Notes and Tips

• Professionals sometimes salt the cucumbers, sit for 5 minutes, and pat dry before mixing with dressing. It will help to enhance the crunch texture.
• You can adjust the spice level according to your preferences. If you are a spice lover, add extra chili flakes or chili oil.
• If you make the salad ahead and refrigerate it for about 30 minutes, you can get a chilled and more flavorful salad.
• Be precise about the measurement to get a balanced flavor.

Conclusion

Spicy cucumber salad will be a perfect side dish with your heavy meal. Cucumber is rich in soluble fiber, which helps to reduce the absorption of cholesterol. Healthy foods are generally not so tasty. But this cucumber salad is healthy and does not compromise on taste.

Try this recipe once, and it may become a go-to salad for you. Besides, you have endless options to customize the salad. So! Without wasting time, prepare this quick and easy salad.

FAQs

Is Spicy Cucumber Salad Healthy?

Yes, spicy cucumber salad is healthy. All the ingredients of this salad are healthy. Cucumbers are rich in soluble fiber and vitamins. Sesame oil and sesame seeds are rich in antioxidants. Chiles are a good source of vitamin C. This delicious salad is very low in calories and rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are beneficial for our health. 

How Do I Keep Cucumbers Crunchy in the Salad?

Salt is mandatory to make the salad tasty. But salt reduces the crunchy texture of cucumbers by releasing water from them. To avoid this situation, experts salt the cucumber slices before using the dressing on the salad.

• Salt the cucumber slices and sit them for about 5 minutes.
• Then, pat them dry before adding dressing.
• Excess water is drawn out.
• Now, the cucumber will remain crunchy for a long time.

What Dishes Pair Well With This Salad? 

Spicy cucumber salad is a versatile salad. You can pair this salad with various dishes. Let me give a list here.

1. Grilled meat
2. BBQ
3. Fried rice
4. Noodles
5. Dumplings