Spicy Asian cucumber salad is a light, refreshing dish, perfect for summer. This Chinese spicy cucumber salad recipe is packed with so much flavor from the sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy dressing.

This spiral cucumber salad is the perfect vegetable side dish that pairs well with just about anything. The best part is that it takes less than 15 minutes to make with only a handful of Asian pantry staple ingredients.

Ingredients

You can find all the ingredients for this spicy Asian cucumber salad recipe at your local grocery store. Full measurements and links to everything I used are listed in the recipe card below.

• Persian Cucumbers: are ideal because they have thin skins, are near seedless, and have a crisp, slightly sweet flavor without being too watery. Persian cucumbers are also used in my popular Din Tai Fung cucumber salad.
• Salt: used to season the cucumbers and pull the moisture out of them which makes them crunchier.
• Soy Sauce: adds a savory, salty, umami flavor.
• Rice Vinegar: adds a mild, slightly sweet vinegar flavor that is less acidic than typical white vinegars.
• Honey: gently sweetens and thickens the dressing.
• Chili Oil Crisp: homemade chili oil or store-bought will work. This adds the spicy flavors to the dressing. Add more or less according to preference.
• Garlic: adds a punchy aromatic garlicky flavor.
• Sesame Oil: adds a nutty umami finish.
• Sesame Seeds: to garnish.
• Green Onion: to garnish.

Substitutions and Additions

Substitutions

• Cucumbers: English or Japanese cucumbers are good alternatives they have a thin skin and minimal seeds. I would avoid American cucumbers because they have a bitter skin and too many seeds.
• Soy sauce alternatives: tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten free alternative.
• Rice vinegar alternatives: white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or Chinese black vinegar.
• Sweetener alternatives: sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, or agave.

Additions

• Spice: for more heat, add extra chili oil, fresh peppers, or sambal oelek.

How to Make Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to make this spicy Asian cucumber salad.

1. Slice the ends of the cucumber. Then, place the cucumber in between two chopsticks and make thin diagonal cuts at a 45 degree angle. Then flip the cucumber and slice thin straight cuts.

2. Sprinkle the salt over the cucumbers and let it soak for at least 5 minutes. Then rinse with water and pat dry.

3. In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, honey, chili oil, garlic, sesame oil, sesame seeds and diced green onion.

4. Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss to combine. Serve the spicy cucumber salad immediately and enjoy!

Storage Instructions

This Chinese spicy cucumber salad is best served immediately. You can store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing the cucumbers, they will lose their crisp texture when defrosted.

FAQ

Can I cut the cucumbers differently?

Yes! Instead of doing the spiral cucumbers you can simply just slice them into circles, matchsticks, or smash them instead.

What type of cucumbers do I use?

I used small Persian cucumbers because they have a thin skin and minimal seeds. But you can use any type of cucumber, like English cucumbers or Japanese cucumbers.

How spicy is this cucumber salad?

Moderately spicy. The spice level depends entirely on the chili oil that you use and the amount. Taste and adjust the dressing according to your spice tolerance level.

Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe