Ingredients
Salad
- 1 large English cucumber about 300 g; scrubbed, then cut into ribbons with a vegetable peeler
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt about 1.5 g, for drawing out surface moisture
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce 15 ml; regular soy sauce works but increases sodium
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar 15 ml
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 5 ml
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 4 g
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds about 3 g
- 1 scallion about 10 g, thinly sliced
Equipment
- Vegetable peeler or wide Y-peeler
- Colander
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Kitchen shears, optional
Instructions
- Scrub and dry the entire cucumber. Use a vegetable peeler to shave it lengthwise into long ribbons, turning the cucumber as you work. Stop when you reach the seedy core if the last strip becomes too soft; use the remaining cucumber by slicing it thinly. This still uses the whole cucumber.
- Put the ribbons in a colander and toss with the measured salt. Let stand for 8–10 minutes while making the dressing. Gently squeeze or pat the ribbons dry; do not rinse away all their seasoning.
- Whisk soy sauce, unseasoned rice vinegar, sesame oil and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Taste a drop. It should be tangy and savory rather than oily or very sweet.
- Add the cucumber ribbons and half the scallion to the dressing. Toss gently so the ribbons stay intact. Finish with sesame seeds and the remaining scallion. Serve promptly while crisp.
Nutrition
Serving: 1side servingCalories: 62kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSodium: 500mgFiber: 1g
Video
Notes
Whole cucumber: The recipe uses one complete large English cucumber, shaved into long ribbons. If the seeded center gets too soft to shave neatly, thinly slice and use it too. Brief salting and draining keeps the dressing from becoming watery.
Make ahead: Mix the dressing separately and shave/salt the cucumber shortly before serving. Once dressed, the cucumber begins releasing liquid. Best served immediately; leftovers can be refrigerated covered and eaten within 1 day, though they soften.
Allergens: Contains soy from soy sauce and sesame from sesame oil and seeds. Check package labels and use a gluten-free tamari if needed.
Nutrition: Approximate per half of the whole cucumber and dressing, using a large 300 g cucumber and low-sodium soy sauce. Soy brands differ widely in sodium; the measured salt is mostly drained off but some remains. Values are estimates.
Cost: Illustrative US$1.65 for one cucumber US$0.90, soy sauce US$0.15, rice vinegar US$0.10, sesame oil US$0.15, sugar/seeds US$0.15 and scallion/seasoning US$0.20. Excludes tax, delivery and energy.
Video: MyHealthyDish demonstrates spiral-cut cucumber with a sesame-soy seasoning approach and salting step. Its recipe includes gochugaru and more cucumbers; this card is a mild one-cucumber version.
