This crisp and refreshing Asian cucumber salad with red onions tossed in a tangy sesame dressing is the perfect quick and easy side dish for any meal!
I love how simple this salad is, but it's still bursting with flavor. The tang from the rice vinegar, the nuttiness of the sesame seeds, and the fresh bite from cilantro and mint take this from being just a basic salad to something special.
Feel free to play around with the ingredients to make this salad work for you. You could toss in some sliced chili for a bit of heat or a drizzle of honey if you like things on the sweeter side, or add crunch with some toasted peanuts.
Ingredient Notes
These notes are here to help make this recipe a success; they cover some but not all ingredients. For a complete ingredient list, check out the recipe card below.
English cucumber: English cucumbers, also known as European cucumbers, are a variety of "seedless" cucumbers that are longer and slimmer than other varieties. It does not have a layer of wax on it, and the skin is tender when ripe. These cucumbers may be wrapped in plastic for a longer shelf life and better freshness.
Red onion: I recommend a small onion. You can replace this with shallots or a mild white onion.
Sesame seeds: You can use white or black sesame seeds. Toasting them in a dry frying pan for a few minutes brings out their nutty flavor. But it does dirty a pan 🤷🏻♀️
Caster sugar: Optional, but it helps cut the tang of the vinegar. You can replace it with regular white sugar.
Rice wine vinegar: You can buy this easily in grocery stores and online. But if you can't find it, replace it with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
Cilantro: Also known as coriander leaf, this adds a distinctive flavor to the salad. If you don't like coriander, just leave it out.
Mint: The freshness really works with the cucumber; you can use regular mint or Vietnamese mint.
Recipe Tips
We've tested this recipe at least 3 times to ensure it works well for you. Have a look at our tips for getting the best dish you can!
- Cut the cucumber and red onion as thinly as you can. The texture of the salad is so much nicer this way.
- Dissolve the sugar and salt into the vinegar before you pour it over the salad; this ensures everything is well seasoned.
- If you want to make it in advance. Don't add the sesame or herbs. Leave them until you are about to serve the salad.
Why You'll Love This Cucumber Salad
- It is quick to make.
- It is fresh and delicious.
- It goes with anything.
- It can be made ahead of time.
- It is easy to adapt.
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Recipe Adaptations
These are all just suggestions and things that have worked in our test kitchen, but it is your dinner, so adapt it to suit your family. That is the beauty of cooking; we can all create our own delicious meals.
- Add some spice by adding some chopped chili to the dressing.
- Add some thinly sliced carrots to your salad.
- Add more sweetness by adding honey to the dressing.
- Add extra crunch with some roasted peanuts.
Serving Suggestions for Asian cucumber salad with red onions
This salad goes with just about anything, but it works incredibly well with:
Enjoy x
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Get the Recipe
Asian Cucumber Salad with Red Onions
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber thinly sliced (note 1)
- ½ small red onion thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves
- 2 tablespoon mint leaves
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together the sliced cucumber and onion.1 English cucumber½ small red onion
- Mix the caster sugar, salt, and rice wine vinegar together in a small jug until dissolved.1 tablespoon caster sugar½ teaspoon salt¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture, cover, and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Just before serving, add the sesame seeds and herbs, then toss before serving.1 tablespoon sesame seeds2 tablespoon coriander leaves2 tablespoon mint leaves
Notes
- English cucumbers, also known as European cucumbers, are a variety of "seedless" cucumbers that are longer and slimmer than other varieties. It does not have a layer of wax on it, and the skin is tender when ripe. These cucumbers may be wrapped in plastic for a longer shelf life and better freshness.
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
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