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5-Min Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

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Asian Cucumber Salad is crisp, refreshing, and comes together in 5 minutes — perfect for hot summer days, but just as welcome any time of year. This version is balanced with savory tsuyu soup base, tangy vinegar, a hint of sweetness, and aromatic garlic oil. It’s simple, vibrant, and adaptable depending on your taste or what’s in your pantry.

Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

Serving: 2
Prep time: 4 minutes
Cook time: 1 minute

Ingredients:
1 small (8-ounce) English cucumber
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon soba tsuyu soup base (or replace with soy sauce)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Asian Cucumber Salad Instructions

1. Prepare the cucumber:

  • Trim off the ends of the cucumber and cut it in half crosswise.
  • Quarter each half lengthwise into spears, then slice into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer to a large bowl.

2. Make the garlic oil:

  • In a small pan over low heat, combine the vegetable oil and minced garlic.
  • Cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic is lightly golden, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

3. Toss and serve:

  • Add salt, sugar, soba tsuyu (or soy sauce), rice vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic oil to the cucumber pieces.
  • Toss well and serve immediately.

Tips & notes

  • Great year-round: While especially refreshing in summer, this salad is crisp and flavorful enough to enjoy any time of year.
  • Customize the flavor: Add chili oil for heat or chopped herbs like cilantro or scallions for extra freshness.

6 thoughts on “5-Min Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe”

      1. Norrie B

        CiCi Li,
        This is a wonderful recipe. I made a few weeks ago and kept going back to the jar for more bites each time I passed the kitchen. I prepared this recipe again to serve to my friend along some crispy tofu steaks and rice. She left one tiny cube of cucumber at the bottom the bowl. Thank you for sharing this and so many of your recipes. I am so happy to have found your videos. Your content and presentation are impeccable.

        Norrie B.

        Reply
        1. CiCi Li

          Thank you so much, Norrie! Your message made my day. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe—and I love how you paired it with crispy tofu and rice (yum!). The image of your friend leaving just one little cucumber cube made me smile. ❤️

          Reply

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