Spicy Cucumber Salad

This Spicy Cucumber Salad is a quick and refreshing meal made with crisp cucumbers and a flavorful spicy dressing. Ready in minutes and perfect for any meal.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went out to dinner with another couple. We were ordering appetizers to share for the table and I suggested the spicy cucumber salad.

Everyone looked at me like I was crazy. Or predictable. The dietitian wants the cucumber salad? When there are so many other amazing things on the menu?!

Look, I love vegetables and I love when they’re made as flavorful and fun as possible. Cucumbers are definitely one of my favorite vegetables too.

So a spicy cucumber salad? Yes, I’m definitely ordered that.

And when it came, everyone loved it. It was SO good. My husband and our friends were all glad we ordered it (*pats myself on the back*).

Needless to say, I immediately got to work in the kitchen. I knew I needed to try to recreate something equally as flavorful at home.

And with this Spicy Cucumber Salad, I 100% succeeded.

Even as a dietitian who loves vegetables – and very much understands the importance of them – I often struggle to eat enough of them,

Like you, I don’t want to just eat plain raw cucumbers – or any other vegetable.

And that’s exactly why I l love this Spicy Cucumber Salad. It’s so full of flavor and is the perfect way to add a ton of nourishing veggies to your day.

Why You’ll Love This Spicy Cucumber Salad

The base of this salad is, of course, cucumbers. They’re cut into thick diagonal slices that really soak up the delicious spicy dressing.

The salad also has microgreens for another vehicle for the dressing and a mix in textures.

Avocado and crushed peanuts both add creamy, delicate sweetness that balance the spicy dressing.

The dressing is made with a simple mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic, sugar, and sesame oil.

All in all, it’s a simple, but incredibly flavorful salad that’s beyond satisfying.

Have it as a side dish or pair with a simple protein of your choice – I know you’ll be as obsessed with this one as I am.

How To Make This Spicy Cucumber Salad

If You Like This Spicy Cucumber Salad, Try These

• Smashed Cucumber Salad with Marinated Salad: Smashed cucumbers are such a fun way to eat cucumbers – they really absorb any flavor they’re paired with.
• Smashed Feta Flatbread: This flatbread is topped with smashed feta and a chopped salad – cucumber, tomato, and red onion. It’s so delicious!
• 20-Minute Mediterranean Hummus Bowls: A simple meal that really only takes 20 minutes to make, if you’re a fun of fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, you’ll love this.
• Easy Panzanella Salad with Burrata: Summer isn’t complete without a panzanella salad, and this version is so good.
• Spicy Peanut Noodles: Similarly spicy, Asian-inspired vibes, but with noodles. If you’re looking for a slightly heartier spicy peanut dish, this is it.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Persian cucumbers: Also called mini cucumbers, these cucumbers are ideal for this salad because they’re seedless with very thin skin.
• Avocado: Avocado adds creaminess to the salad that balances out all the heat. If you’re making this ahead of time, you can wait to add the avocado until eating or serving so that it doesn’t brown.
• Microgreens: I love microgreens in this to add additional texture and another vegetable to soak up the delicious dressing. Any microgreen variety will work.
• Peanuts: You can crush peanuts with a mallet or buy them crushed. I recommended using roasted peanuts. They can be salted or unsalted.
• Soy sauce: Soy sauce is critical for the dressing! You can use regular or low sodium.
• Rice vinegar: Adds a subtle acidity and sweetness.
• Chili garlic: This is what adds the heat — and a little goes a long way. For less spice, use slightly less, and for a spicier dressing, use more (but add slowly!).
• Sugar: Sugar balances out the heat in the dressing and adds a little bit of sweetness.
• Sesame oil: This oil really highlights the flavor profile of the dressing. But if you don’t have sesame oil, olive or avocado oil can be used instead.

Spicy Cucumber Salad Tips

• Cutting the cucumbers: Make sure you’re using a sharp knife to cut the cucumbers well. This one is my favorite! Cut them at a diagonal into thick slices.
• Balancing the spice: If you can only handle a little spice, you have a few options. Try using a little less chili garlic in the dressing (1-2 teaspoons). You can also add more avocado and/or peanuts to balance the heat.
• Make ahead: If making this salad ahead of time, I recommend preparing the dressing and then waiting to cut the cucumbers and avocado and assemble the salad until you’re ready to serve or eat it.
• Storage: Store the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Once the salad is dressed and tossed, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days. The avocado may brown, but the cucumbers will absorb more of the dressing and their flavor.

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