Zesty Shake Cucumber Salad (Printable)

Crunchy cucumber tossed in tangy soy-sesame dressing with a touch of heat and fresh herbs.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers, ends trimmed
02 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

03 - 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 1 ½ tablespoons rice vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
06 - 1 ½ teaspoons sugar or honey
07 - 1 garlic clove, finely grated
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
09 - ½ to 1 teaspoon chili flakes, to taste

→ Garnish

10 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, white or black
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Wash and dry the cucumbers. Slice each lengthwise, then cut into ¼-inch thick half-moon slices.
02 - Place cucumber slices and scallions in a large resealable bag or container with a secure lid.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, sugar, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes until sugar dissolves.
04 - Pour the dressing over cucumbers and scallions. Seal and shake vigorously for 30 seconds to coat evenly.
05 - Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with sesame seeds and cilantro if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper side that literally takes 10 minutes from fridge to table.
  • The bag-shake method means you're done with dishes before you've finished telling someone what you made.
  • That tangy-spicy-nutty dressing is dangerously good and works on everything you'll eat next week.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the cucumbers after washing; water is the enemy of a concentrated dressing and crisp texture.
  • The shake method actually works better than hand-tossing because you get more surface contact and less bruising of the cucumber slices.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the night before and let it sit—the flavors marry and become more complex, so when you shake it with fresh cucumbers the next day, it hits harder.
  • If you're not serving immediately, don't add the cilantro until the last second; it wilts and loses its brightness if it sits in the dressing.
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