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This TikTok viral Spicy Cucumber Salad is crunchy, bright and so refreshing! It’s the perfect side dish to complement any meal and keep you cool in the hot summer months.
Do you love cucumbers as much as I do? I can’t get enough of their crisp freshness! Check out this tasty Cucumber Sandwich, this easy Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad or this crowd-pleasing Creamy Cucumber Salad for more delicious ways to use up those cucumbers!
This Spicy Cucumber Salad is a light and tasty dish that’s made with mini cucumbers cut into fun spiral shapes! They are then tossed in a simple dressing of soy sauce, garlic powder, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. The cucumbers absorb all of the flavors for the perfect fresh, zesty crunch.
Before serving, I love to garnish the salad with toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onion. If you want to add a hint of spiciness, sprinkle with red pepper flakes! You’re going to love this simple, yet flavorful side dish or appetizer that’s especially perfect during warmer months.
You will also love this Tiktok Viral Carrot Salad recipe or my shrimp summer rolls. If you love salads and want to explore more salad recipes then check out my other healthy salad recipes.
Recipe highlights
- A light side for summer: This is light with lots of fresh flavor and a great alternative to heavier salads and sides.
- Perfect for a party: Because of the unique way the cucumbers are spiraled, this salad always gets lots of oohs and aahs when I bring it out. Plus, everyone loves the delicious flavor.
- Versatile: This cucumber salad pairs wonderfully with Asian-inspired meals like my Asian Honey Glazed Salmon but it’s also great with something like Grilled Chicken Kafta at your next backyard barbecue. It also travels well to take to potlucks and other gatherings with friends.
Ingredients you will need
- Cucumbers: Mini cucumbers work best for this salad because they have fewer seeds and do not get as mushy as regular cucumbers.
- Fine kosher salt: Draws extra moisture out of cucumbers, so the salad isn’t too watery.
- Soy sauce: A low-sodium option is fine to add umami flavor the cucumbers.
- Garlic powder: Using the powder form is best for even dispersement of garlic flavor throughout the sauce.
- Rice vinegar: Adds a tangy component that balances the soy sauce.
- Honey: For a hint of sweetness that balances the saltiness of the soy sauce and the sour taste of the rice vinegar.
- Toasted sesame oil: I love the addition of toasted sesame oil for its rich, nutty taste.
- Sesame seeds & green onion: The sesame seeds add extra texture and the green onions add a mild onion flavor and a pop of color.
- Cayenne pepper or chili oil: not pictured (optional)
See a full list of ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below!
Variations and substitutions
- Vinegar varieties: You may use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice instead of rice wine vinegar.
- Vegan option: For a vegan version, add maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.
- Gluten free option: To make this salad gluten free, use tamari or coconut amino in place of soy sauce.
- Add peanuts: Try adding chopped peanuts for even more crunchy texture.
- Make it spicier: Add a teaspoon of garlic chili paste to the dressing for extra heat.
How to make it
Step 1: To cut the cucumbers into spirals, place 2 chopsticks on the sides of your cucumber as shown in the photos. First make diagonal cuts, about 1/8 inches apart. Then flip the cucumber, keeping the chopsticks, and cut vertically.
Using this method of cutting will give your cucumbers a really neat spiraled look.
Step 2: Place the cucumbers in a colander over a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Allow them to sit for 10-15 minutes.
Step 3: In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, garlic powder, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, Chili oil (or cayenne pepper) and sesame seeds.
Step 4: Add in the cucumbers and stir well to coat with the dressing. Garnish with green onions, if desired.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tips
- Soak in salt: Adding salt to the cucumbers is an important step. It draws out the extra moisture in the cucumbers creating drier and crunchier cucumbers that won’t make the salad soggy.
- Serve chilled: Chilled is my favorite way to serve a cucumber salad. Chilling it before serving it will also give the dressing time to intensify and blend with all of the flavors.
- Different cucumbers: If you can’t find mini cucumbers, you can make this salad using English cucumbers that are thinly sliced.
Frequently asked questions
To decrease the excess moisture in a cucumber salad, it’s best to use an English cucumber, Persian cucumber or mini cucumbers. Also, soak them in salt to draw out the liquid.
There is no need to peel mini cucumbers. The peel on mini cucumbers is very thin, you won’t even notice it.
Yes, it is best to store your cucumbers in the fridge. Wash and dry the cucumbers using a paper towel, place them in a paper bag, and store them in the fridge.
Serving suggestions
This spicy cucumber salad recipe pairs well with so many different mains! Here are a few suggestions to make a complete meal:
- Chicken Lo Mein
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Sweet and Spicy Asian Chili Chicken Breasts
- Asian Shrimp Zucchini Noodles Recipe
- Baked Honey Chicken Drumsticks
- Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry
- Miso Glazed Salmon
Storage recommendations
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Since there is salt added, the cucumbers will begin to wilt and so the salad is best eaten fresh or within a few hours of making.
More summer salads to try
- Creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Mango Black Bean Salad Recipe
- Green Beans and Tomato Salad
- Chicken Pasta Salad
Thanks for stopping by! If you make this dish or any of my other recipes, I would really appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Spicy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound mini cucumbers
- 2 teaspoons fine kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1-2 tablespoon Crispy chili oil, or 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- Optional: 1 green onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- To cut the cucumbers into spirals, place 2 chopsticks on the sides of your cucumber as shown in the photos. First make diagonal cuts, about 1/8 inches apart. Then flip the cucumber, keeping the chopsticks, and cut vertically.
- Place them in a colander over a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Allow them to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, garlic powder, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, chili oil (if using), and sesame seeds.
- Add in the cucumbers and stir well to coat with the dressing. Garnish with green onions, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Since there is salt added, the cucumbers will begin to wilt so the salad is best eaten fresh or within a few hours of making.
- Original recipe calls for the use of Asian chili oil crisp. It is not pictured because my kids can’t handle it and they really love this salad. haha. I sometimes use a tiny bit of cayenne pepper or chili flakes but it tastes best with chili oil which I recommend that you use.
- Use 1-2 tablespoons of chili oil and mix it in with the sauce.
- Note: In the video, I added the chili oil which is what the original recipe calls for but I didn’t add it in the pictures because I feel like it’s optional and my kids sometimes can’t handle spice. I do love it with the chili oil so please watch the video if you are going to add it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just made this for dinner and it is absolutely awesome!
My wife and I both like spice so I used a full 2 TBSP of Chili Oil 🙂
This one is a keeper for us for sure.
Thank you very much
Thats amazing. I love spice and adding chili oil but not one of my 5 kids will handle any spice lol. Bummer.Glad you guys loved it
I have to peel my mini y cucumbers or English cucumber can I peel the skin off and still do it will it still spiral imagine it would
Hi. You should still be able to
This was Awesome
Wow it was so good. Thanks