This is the kind of cucumber that is often served as one of side dishes at the classic Chinese banquet…it is simple and really tasty. The flavors of this cucumber dish is kind of garlicky, sweet with a touch of spiciness. I love this simple side dish, especially when the weather is warm…the cucumbers have crunchy texture with complex flavors, and can be kept in the fridge for a few days.
Ingredients:
3 Japanese cucumbers
1 teaspoon salt
4 to 5 garlic cloves
¼ teaspoon whole peppercorns
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
Method:
Cut the cucumber into 1 to ½ in length and add salt. Mix and let it sit for about ½ hour. This will remove the water from the cucumber.
Drain the water from the cucumber and set aside.
In the meantime, prepared the sauce by placing the garlic in the oil, let it fry for a little until some fragrance come from the pan, add the peppers, then the sugar, the vinegar and the soy sauce. Let it boil and immediately add the cucumber. Stir gently and turn the heat off.
Remove from the pan and place in an air tight glass jar. Once the cucumber cool down, place in the refrigerator. Serve cold.
If you enjoy this cucumber side dish you might want to check on lighter version of Asian Style Cucumber Salad.
Did you know that cucumber contains approximately 95% water? Moreover, cucumbers have somehow diuretic properties due to the high water and potassium content.
Thank you for stopping by Simple Recipes and have a great week!
Oh I love these – never tried to make it on my own, though.
This makes my lunch time cut up cucumber look oh so boring. I like the idea of this cold cucumber dish perfectly seasoned with garlic and a touch of heat. Hope you are having a great week.
I love these Juliana look so yumm!
That is a wonderful cucumber side dish, refreshing too.
This salad might even get me to like cucumbers!
I devour these cucumbers at Chinese restaurants. Nice to know they’re as easy as can be to make at home, too.
I love cucumbers prepared this way, so tasty and refreshing! Beautiful tempting photos Juliana;-)
Cucumbers are one of my favorite summer veggies — they’re so refreshing! This salad looks delicious!
I always eat loads of this at chinese restaurants. It’s good to know they are easy to make. Now I can just make them at home. Yummy!
This is such a refreshing appetizer dish. Love the crunch too!
Cucumbers have never looked more delicious my friend
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Scrumptiously crunchy and spicy! A wonderful summer dish. Going to make that for supper…
Cheers,
Rosa
Very crunchy and appetizing!
Juliana, this looks so good. I usually have the kind made with rice vinegar, sugar and pepper, but I definitely have to try this one. Such great flavors!
Really unusual side dish, Juliana. And it’s nice to see a cucumber salad that’s not loaded with mayo or sour cream. Their flavor shines through.
Have to try this. It looks very appetizing!
This sounds way better than a pickled cucumber dish I had to make a few weeks ago. Kudos!
This is a perfect summer dish! Looks amazing!
what a wonderful cucumber dish bookmarked
This is definitely one of my favorite cold dish that my whole family enjoys.
So refreshing and cooling. Yes, I love mind with the garlic and chili as well.
I love it!:)
This is refreshing, great sides for summer!
How delicious and refreshing!!!
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
This is a great appetizer! It looks very refreshing! The thought of this dish just make me drool
Oh, I could eat a whole bowl of these delicious cucumbers! I’ve made made something similar with sliced cucumbers, but I love these larger chunks
Oh, I can eat these on top of a bowl of steaming hot rice, and I’d be perfectly happy. Have a great week Juliana!
These look great! I love cucumbers, and I love spicy – and this is a delightful combination of both. Really nice recipe – thanks.
Oops! I put that comment into the wrong tab-please delete
I meant to say that my mum makes something just like this and I love these pickles. I can eat a whole jar in one go
Hi Juliana!
Your Cucumber dish not only looks so inviting, it sounds delicious too!!! Funny thing is, I don’t usually get excited about cucumbers but between the crunchiness, and that little trick of getting the water out, I may just need to make this for Marion and then I can try it too!!!
Thank you so much for sharing…
I love cucumbers and this dressings sounds delicious! Great side dish,Juliana!
Love this side dish! Such a wonderful way to enjoy cucumber!
After I take the jar out of the fridge, it will never go back and that’s for sure. This is the kind of dish that I will not stop munching on. With all the garlic that’s in there, yum! Have a very nice weekend, Juliana!
These skinny cucumbers are some of my favorite summer vegetables. I’ve been buying them almost every week since the start of the summer. The way i make these are very similar to yours – with loads of garlic and some sesame oil and black vinegar…so refreshing! Great post!
Looks wonderful! I love cucumbers, especially when they are crunchy and this looks good to me! Thank you for sharing, have a lovely weekend!
Simple and flavorful. Have a great weekend!
that sauce sounds oh-so-flavorful! cucumbers really suck up whatever solution they’re placed in, and this would make them delicious!
Hi Juliana, I always love cucumber cook or raw. Your this cold dish look excellent, so appetizing.
Thanks for sharing the recipe and have a nice weekend.
That looks like a great salad. Love the vibrancy of the colours. And so fresh! xx
Yes, I have tried these cucumbers in Chinese restaurants. I love cucumber especially now that it’s their season. This is a very original way to prepare them and I would love to try them!
Thanks for sharing this authentic recipe, a perfect summertime side dish. From your Curiosity Corner: Yes, the diuretic properties of cucumbers are amazing–they really do help relieve puffiness around the eyes.
I’m IN LOVE with the amount of garlic in this dish. Holy yum, batman! I’ll definitely give this one a try
oh my gosh Juliana!! I loooove this cold dish!! It’s one of my favourites! I NEED to make it now that I know it’s so simple!! Thanks for sharing my dear!
I have never had this dish but the cucumbers sound great.
What a lovely cucumber side-dish, Juliana! I have been making different cucumber experiments recently (just like every summer). It’s one of my favourite vegetables, but in the summer it becomes an everyday obligatory item.
Very quick side dish! My husband prefers having several side dishes, and it doesn’t matter how simple they can be. This is going to be a great addition to the table. Especially in summer, I love having cold dish!
Dear Juliana,
I love a cold cucumber salad especially in summer, so simple and yet with a spicy zing of the chilli flakes and garlic.
This is perhaps a strange thing to admit, but I -love- cucumbers! I will enthusiastically munch on plain cucumbers every single day, and especially in the heat of summer. You simple yet flavorful way of preparing them sounds like a wonderful change of pace. I always have a whole pile of cucumbers on hand, so it helps to dress ‘em up every now and then.