Description
This Sweet and Tangy Thai Cucumber Salad offers a refreshing blend of crisp cucumbers, vibrant red onion, and a flavorful dressing made from rice vinegar, sugar, toasted sesame oil, fish sauce, and a hint of red pepper flakes. Garnished with toasted sesame seeds and optional chopped peanuts, it’s a perfect light and zesty side dish that pairs beautifully with any meal.
Ingredients
Dressing Ingredients
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce (adjust to taste)
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salad Ingredients
- 1 large hothouse (English) cucumber, thinly sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup chopped peanuts (optional)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar, salt, toasted sesame oil, fish sauce, and red pepper flakes until the sugar is fully dissolved. Adjust the fish sauce quantity if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Assemble the Salad: Place the thinly sliced cucumber and red onion into a medium mixing bowl. Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetables and stir thoroughly to ensure all cucumber slices are evenly coated.
- Marinate: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate the salad for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld, but it can marinate up to 1-2 hours for a more intense taste.
- Add Nuts and Seeds: Just before serving, sprinkle chopped peanuts over the salad for added crunch and garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
- Serve: Give the salad a final gentle toss and serve chilled as a refreshing side dish.
Notes
- Adjust fish sauce to taste if you’re sensitive to its strong flavor; start with less and add more if desired.
- For extra crunch and protein, add the optional chopped peanuts just before serving to maintain their texture.
- Red pepper flakes can be adjusted or omitted for less heat.
- This salad is best served chilled and consumed within a day for maximum freshness.
- Use English cucumbers for fewer seeds and a crisp texture.
