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Thai Cucumber Salad

Crisp Thai cucumber salad with fresh cilantro and roasted peanuts in a bowl.

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A vibrant, budget-friendly salad with crisp cucumbers in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy dressing. It comes together in minutes and is the perfect fresh side dish for any meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large English cucumbers (or 4-5 Persian cucumbers)
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped (optional)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar (unseasoned)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegetarian)
  • 1-2 Thai bird’s eye chilies or 1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • Juice of 1/2 a lime

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cucumbers. Wash them, optionally peel in stripes, and slice thinly (about 1/8-inch thick). For English cucumbers, halve lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with a spoon to prevent sogginess.
  2. Make the dressing. In a small bowl or jar, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and water. Whisk or shake until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  3. Stir the fish sauce, minced garlic, sliced chilies, and lime juice into the dressing.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers, red onion, and most of the cilantro. Pour the dressing over the top and gently toss to coat.
  5. For best flavor, refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow it to marinate.
  6. Just before serving, give the salad a final gentle toss and garnish with the remaining cilantro and chopped peanuts.

Notes

For a crisp salad, scrape seeds from English cucumbers. Dissolve sugar completely in the vinegar base. Best enjoyed the day it’s made, as cucumbers soften over time. Adjust chili amount to taste.

Nutrition