This light and refreshing Cucumber Salad has the perfect dressing of rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a dash of honey to balance all the ingredients together and topped with sesame seeds for added crunch. A crisp, refreshing, and quick vegetarian side salad that can be made in no time, you won’t be disappointed.
This deliciously crunchy Cucumber Salad is so light and refreshing and just perfect for a hot summer picnic day. It’s a new favourite, that I’ve made over and over again.
I’ve had many recipes for cucumber salads made with vinegar, but this combination of thinly sliced crunchy cucumbers and crisp red onions is so refreshing. Plus, the dressing of rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and honey is more complex, almost Asian-inspired but also Western-style. The addition of sesame seeds adds a subtle nutty taste that mingle with all the flavours so deliciously.
can cucumber salad be made ahead
Cucumber salad is a great side dish to make hours before a big party or even the day before. It just gets better in the fridge, giving all that crunchy cucumbers time to marinate with the vinegar dressing. It’s best eaten within 2 hours, but it’s still good for a couple days.
what to serve cucumber salad with
Cucumber salad is the perfect side for just about any grilled meat - chicken, fish or steak or any meatless main dish. I love to pair this with another favourite of mine - carrot fritters. It’s super simple to assemble you can bring it to a summer BBQ or a picnic or cookout, but it’s actually good any time of the year, try it for an ultra healthy light snack pre-workout or late at night while watching a movie.
Cucumber Salad With Red Onion and Vinegar
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber thinly sliced
- ½ a small red onion thinly sliced
- 1 tsp sesame seeds toasted
- 2 tsp coriander chopped, cilantro
- 1 clove garlic grated
- 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 ½ tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp honey or agave syrup
Instructions
- Combine the cucumber, chopped coriander and red onion in a bowl and toss to combine.
- Add the rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic and honey in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add to the salad and toss to coat evenly in the dressing.
- Sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds just before serving.
njj says
This salad is good, but I tweeked it after a first attempt: I cut the vinegar back to 1 T, and increased the oil to 1 T. Also, I added sliced mandarin oranges. Great for a side salad with a one-dish main course.
Summer Cook says
Very easy, delicious, and healthy--I will definitely make it again!
Faye says
All I can say is... Absolutely Divine!
Emily (Adeline & Lumiere) says
I’ll have to buy some rice wine vinegar and try this one out!
anh@anhsfoodblog.com says
Simple, beautiful salad. We had something similar yesterday at our dinner table, too!
yummy supper says
Great looking salad... When I picnic I often try to think up something that will stay crisp and fresh and this looks perfect. Thank you!
-Erin
thelittleloaf says
I wish it was still picnic weather in the UK! This salad looks gorgeous - I love including seeds in salads for a little extra crunch. Otherwise on picnics I like to bring gorgeous bread, simple salads, hunks of cheese and homemade tarts. A few dips and crisps don't go amiss too!
delicieux says
I love dips on picnics too! 😀
Melanie @ Melanie Cooks says
What a great cucumber salad! Looks so refreshing and crunchy, and the sesame seeds are such a nice touch!
sara says
Gorgeous! This looks really delicious - I love cucumbers in salads! 🙂
Katherine Martinelli says
This looks simple and delicious! My husband has made me promise to make it soon! I've included it in my Friday Shout-Out and Blog Hop! I hope you'll stop by and check it out. (This week's theme is salad!) http://www.katherinemartinelli.com/blog/2011/friday-shout-out-and-blog-hop-salad-recipe/
delicieux says
Thanks for including my salad in your blog hop Katherine 😀
Emma Galloway says
It sure has been hot enough around here lately to be munching through bowls of cooling cucumber salad! I especially love Asian inspired ones like this.
delicieux says
Thanks Emma 😀 It has been hot enough hasn't it! We've been having this salad so much my fiance is joking we should get shares in cucumber farms!
Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice says
Great idea for a picnic - such a light and refreshing side. I'll add this to my summer repertoire - minus the onions, though 🙂
Rosa says
Refined in its simplicity and so beautiful!
Cheers,
Rosa
delicieux says
Thanks Rosa 😀
Nadia says
I love cucumber salad too 🙂
For picnics I prefer dips & wraps though, they are easier to eat out there and you can have many different combinations for the dips and basically the things that go inside 🙂
Amy says
It really is beautiful weather to picnic at the moment 🙂 This cucumber salad looks amazingly refreshing, I think I'll try your recommendation of pairing it with the carrot fritters. I just bought some white wine at the good food and wine show that will complete the meal 🙂
delicieux says
It is beautiful picnic weather at the moment, and today was no exception. Despite being a little windy, it was a beautiful day, and I loved watching the boats go by on the river. D I'm sure you picked up a good wine at the food show. We'll be going there tomorrow. I can't wait 😀