Creamy Asian Cucumber Salad (Printable)

Fresh cucumber salad with colorful vegetables and creamy sesame dressing, ready in 15 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 4 radishes, thinly sliced
05 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
08 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
09 - 2 teaspoons soy sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
12 - 1 teaspoon honey
13 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon sriracha (optional)
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

# Steps:

01 - Combine cucumbers, carrot, bell pepper, radishes, scallions, and red cabbage in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, ginger, garlic, and sriracha if using, until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Pour dressing over vegetables and toss gently until evenly coated.
04 - Divide salad among serving bowls and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way cool cucumbers meet warm, nutty sesame flavors feels like summer in a bowl
  • It comes together in literally 15 minutes but looks and tastes like restaurant-quality work
  • You can prep everything ahead and the flavors actually get better with time
02 -
  • The salad releases water as it sits, so if you're meal prepping, keep the dressing separate until you're ready to eat
  • English cucumbers are worth seeking out, regular cucumbers have thick, bitter skins that throw off the texture
  • Letting the dressed salad sit for just 10 minutes before serving actually helps the flavors meld beautifully
03 -
  • Toasting your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes until fragrant makes an enormous flavor difference
  • If the dressing feels too thick, add a teaspoon of water at a time until it reaches your desired consistency

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