Best Chinese Style Sweet And Sour Cucumber Salad Recipes
ASIAN CUCUMBER SALAD
An easy Asian Cucumber Salad with vibrant, sweet and sour Sesame Garlic dressing. This salad is refreshing treat for all Cucumber Salad Lovers. Sliced cucumbers with quick mix of dressing, and it is The perfect addition to summer meal. Dressing is vinegar based and is lite without any dairy, too-much oil, or nuts. (I'm also sharing tips to make an always-crunchy-not-watery-cucumber-salad. Don't miss to read.)Today's recipe is inspired from a local Asian Dumpling restaurant. This cucumber salad is their top seller. I usually don't order simple salads for starters but a filling, layered, full-meal kinda salad is my thing. One day, Vishal insisted me to try this Cucumber Salad. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Salad was two spiralized mini Asian seedless cucumbers with drizzle of sweet and sour dressing. With aroma of sesame oil, first sweet and sour flavor the taste buds, then crunchy cucumber and it finishes with a tiny bit lingering heat. I recommend three things when trying this salad:1. Don't skimp on dressing. Drizzle some on salad. Save some to use before eating.2. Keep heat low. It does not hit taste buds until bite is finished. If unsure, try dressing with a slice of cucumber to test.3. For best flavor, serve salad chilled.Always Crunchy Cucumber SaladEven an easy Cucumber Salad such as this can get tricky when cucumber starts to release water and eventually loose crunch.Fact is, vegetables like Cucumber, Summer Squash are filled with water. As soon as salt or acid comes in contact with sliced cucumber or zucchini, these release most water out. To prevent this (or more realistically minimize it), I use following methods to prepare a crunchy Cucumber Salad:1. Make Salad Just Before Serving:This is the easiest and simplest method ever. Make Salad Dressing and store in separate container. It stays good for more than 2 weeks. Slice cucumber slightly thick slices. Just before serving, drizzle dressing on top, and season with pinch of salt. Serve immediately.2. Salt Cure Cucumber (make cucumber giveaway most water):It is the most common method used to draw moisture out of vegetables. Slice the cucumber and sprinkle slightly with salt on both sides. Leave aside in strainer for 15-20 minutes. You will be amazed how much water 2 cucumbers yield in matter of 15-20 minutes. Once drained, then transfer to paper towel to soak extra moisture hanging outside completely. Or Pat dry with clean paper towel.That's it. These 20 minutes are a huge investment in making a perfect Cucumber Salad. A cucumber salad that you will not find in pool of water. This cured cucumber can be used for all kind cucumber salad. Traditional creamy, or lite such as today's recipe.Sweet and Sour Salad Dressing:A perfect Asian salad dressing is sweet, tangy and has bit of heat. You can add these three flavors with many ingredients. I used following for this recipe.For Cucumber Salad, vinegar dressing is my favorite. It keeps salad lite, tangy, and add big punch of flavor. I used Rice Vinegar (unseasoned) which is perfect for that distinct refreshing Asian flavor. Unseasoned vinegar helps control the salt of recipe. Since dressing also has soy and sambal. It is best to use unseasoned vinegar to adjust the seasoning.For sweetness, I use regular sugar. It is important to mix it well so it dissolved fully. You can also use honey, agave, palm nectar, or no-sugar sweet substitutes if you prefer.Oh, have you tried my Chinese Chicken Salad with Honey-Mustard dressing? That dressing is also sweet and sour but uses mustard and honey. Must try!Spiralized or Thin Sliced:This salad is very forgiving. Use your favorite method of slicing cucumber. I prefer to spiralize it when serving immediately. When bringing to potluck or serving later, I prefer thick sliced cucumber.If you love cucumber, this will be your favorite salad all summer long. Simple, easy yet bold pack-a-punch sweet-sour flavor.. It always makes a statement when I serve it to my guests. In-fact, recipe is so quick, I even make some for weekend grilling. I hope you will enjoy it as mush as we do.Wish you a wonderful day ahead.
Provided by Savita
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- If making salad to serve immediately, proceed to Step - 2. Place sliced cucumber in a strainer, sprinkle lightly with salt. Place strainer on a rimmed plate for dripping. Refrigerate until ready to use (at least 15-20 minutes, max 2 hrs).
- While cucumbers release water, make the dressing. Combine all dressing ingredients with grated garlic and 1/8 tsp of salt in a bowl. Whisk to emulsify oil with vinegar, until sugar has fully dissolved. Taste and adjust sambal chili paste, and salt per preference.
- Once ready to serve, transfer cucumber from strainer to paper towel to soak all moisture hanging around. Pat dry gently without breaking the pieces.
- Transfer cucumber to serving platter/salad bowl. Drizzle all of dressing on top. Serve immediately and enjoy!
CHINESE CUCUMBER SALAD
This Chinese Cucumber Salad is simple and refreshing, with a mild garlic flavor balanced with the perfect amount of salt and rice vinegar. The secret is making a mild garlic oil in addition to a little bit of raw garlic!
Provided by Kaitlin
Categories Appetizer
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- First prepare the garlic. When you've minced all of the garlic, set aside the equivalent of 1 clove.
- Mix the oil and the rest of the garlic together, and set over medium-heat in a saucepan. Cook lightly for 2-3 minutes. Some foam will appear as the water in the garlic escapes. Do not let the garlic brown! This process takes about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- Chop the cucumbers into quarters lengthwise and then into ½-inch chunks. Transfer to a bowl. Add the garlic oil, salt, sugar, pinch of MSG if using, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Finally, add the reserved minced raw garlic. Stir thoroughly to coat everything.
- For the best results, let sit for at least 20 minutes in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 86 kcal, Carbohydrate 5 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 778 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving
SWEET-AND-SOUR CUCUMBER SALAD
This Sweet-and-Sour Cucumber Salad is spiced with a little dry mustard.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Salad Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, toss together cucumbers and onions. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, salt, mustard, and celery seeds. Whisk in oil and vinegar until emulsified. Pour vinaigrette over vegetables; toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate at least 4 hours to let flavors blend. Serve chilled.
THAI SWEET-AND-SOUR CUCUMBER SALAD
From Real Vegetarian Thai by Nancie McDermott. In the note it says that if you are using a nice, unwaxed cucumber to leave some of the skin on. (I never use the cilantro.) This goes well with Thai Shrimp With Coconut-Almond Rice, Recipe #287896.
Provided by mliss29
Categories Vegetable
Time 15m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar, and salt and boil gently over medium heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar and salt. After about 2 minutes, when the syrup is clear and slightly thickened, remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Peel the cucumber and slice lengthwise in quarters. (You can remove the seeds if you want to.) Slice these strips into 1/4 inch thick triangles.
- In a bowl, combine the cucumbers, cooled vinegar mixture, onion, and cilantro and mix well.
- Use a slotted spoon to serve into individual dishes. Sprinkle servings with the chopped peanuts and cilantro leaves.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 229.1, Fat 9.5, SaturatedFat 1.3, Sodium 739.1, Carbohydrate 33.1, Fiber 2, Sugar 27.6, Protein 5.1
CHINESE SMASHED CUCUMBERS WITH SESAME OIL AND GARLIC
In China, cucumbers are considered the ideal foil for hot weather and hot food. Versions of this salad, pai huang gua, are served all over the country, sometimes spiked with dried chiles and Sichuan peppercorns for more dimensions of flavor. In Beijing, people buy whole chilled cucumbers from street vendors and munch them on the go, much as Americans become attached to their cups of iced coffee in summer. The smashing process, a classic Chinese technique, cracks the skin, helps release the seeds and splits the flesh into appealing craggy pieces. Salting and chilling the cracked cucumbers give them the perfect cool, crunchy, watery mouth feel.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories salads and dressings, side dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Cut crosswise into pieces about 4 inches long. Cut each piece in half lengthwise.
- On a work surface, place a piece of cucumber (or several) cut side down. Lay the blade of a large knife flat on top the cucumber and smash down lightly with your other hand. The skin will begin to crack, the flesh will break down and the seeds will separate. Repeat until the whole piece is smashed. Break or slice diagonally into bite-size pieces, leaving the seeds behind.
- Place the cucumber pieces in a strainer and toss with a big pinch of salt and a big pinch of sugar. Place a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the cucumbers to serve as a weight and place the strainer over a bowl. Let drain 15 to 30 minutes on the counter, or in the refrigerator until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in sesame oil and soy sauce.
- When ready to serve, shake cucumbers well to drain off any remaining liquid and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with grapeseed or olive oil and toss. Add half the dressing, half the garlic and the red pepper flakes to taste, and toss. Keep adding dressing until cucumbers are well coated but not drowned. Taste and add more pepper flakes and garlic if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds.
SWEET AND TANGY THAI CUCUMBER SALAD
This salad is a refreshing side to spicy Thai food. I prefer it without hot peppers or peanuts since its major purpose for me is refreshment. It's especially quick to make if you can slice the cucumbers and onions in a food processor.
Provided by PRACTICINGJOY
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes Cucumber Salad Recipes
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Whisk sugar, hot water, white vinegar, and salt in a bowl until sugar has dissolved. Stir cucumber and onion into the sauce. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to soften the texture of the vegetables and reduce pungency of the onion.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 79.1 calories, Carbohydrate 20.1 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 0.5 g, Sodium 389.8 mg, Sugar 18.2 g
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