By Becky Hardin
Updated Jul 16, 2025
Tangy and sweet, this Asian cucumber salad is one of my go-to dishes when I want something bold and refreshing. Seasoned with rice vinegar, sesame seeds, garlic, and honey, I like that this flavorful salad is perfect for any occasion.
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5-Star Review
“Everyone loved it! Made it as a side with the Chicken Lo Mein Recipe which was excellent also.” -Donna
Easy Asian Inspired Cucumber Salad Recipe
Add some freshness to your plate with this delicious twist on a classic cucumber salad recipe . Perfect to serve as a side dish with your favorite mains, this is a tasty way to enjoy your veggies. Light and refreshing, and tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing, there’s no bad time to enjoy this! To turn this salad into a satisfying meal, just mix in some cooked, shredded chicken.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 cups cucumbers thinly sliced
- ▢ 2¼ tsp kosher salt divided
- ▢ 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- ▢ 1 tbsp fresh ginger root minced
- ▢ 1 tbsp sesame oil
- ▢ 2 tsp honey maple syrup works too
- ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
- ▢ ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ▢ ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- ▢ ½ chile pepper finely chopped, add more or less to taste
- ▢ 2 scallions thinly sliced
- ▢ 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Thinly slice the cucumber and place them in a colander set over a large bowl. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, then set aside to drain for 1 hour. 4 cups cucumbers, 2¼ tsp kosher salt
- Rinse remaining salt off cucumbers under cold water, then pat dry.
- In a small bowl, whisk together rice wine vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, honey, garlic, and remaining kosher salt. 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tbsp fresh ginger root, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tsp honey, 1 clove garlic
- In a large bowl, place drained cucumbers, onion, cilantro, chile pepper, and scallions. 4 cups cucumbers, ½ cup red onion, ¼ cup cilantro, ½ chile pepper, 2 scallions
- Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately. 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Becky’s Tips
- Don’t skip salting the cucumbers. If you do, the excess water will pool at the bottom of your serving bowl.
- A mandoline is the quickest way to slice the cucumber thinly. You can do it by hand with a knife, but get the slices as thin as you can.
- Slice the red onion as finely as you can so that it’s not too overpowering.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Asian Cucumber Salad Step by Step
Gather your ingredients.
Slice and rinse the cucumbers : Thinly slice 4 cups cucumber and place them in a colander set over a large bowl. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, then set aside to drain for 1 hour.
Rinse remaining salt off cucumbers under cold water, then pat dry.
Make the dressing : In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tbsp fresh ginger root, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tsp honey, 1 clove garlic and remaining kosher salt.
Combine the vegetables: In a large bowl, place drained cucumbers, ½ cup onion, ¼ cup cilantro, ½ chile pepper, and 2 scallions.
Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat.
Garnish and serve : Garnish with one tbsp sesame seeds and serve immediately.
How to Store
This salad is best served as soon as it’s ready so that the cucumbers are nice and fresh. If you aren’t serving it right away, keep it refrigerated.
If you have leftovers, they will keep well for a day or two, but you may need to drain any excess water from the bowl.
Serving Suggestions
This Asian cucumber salad is perfect to enjoy in the hot summer months, but it really is great all year round. Serve it up as a cool side with firecracker salmon or with a batch of smash burgers . I also like to serve it with baked chicken tacos .
Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups cucumbers thinly sliced
- 2¼ tsp kosher salt divided
- 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger root minced
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp honey maple syrup works too
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- ½ chile pepper finely chopped, add more or less to taste
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Thinly slice the cucumber and place them in a colander set over a large bowl. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, then set aside to drain for 1 hour. 4 cups cucumbers, 2¼ tsp kosher salt
- Rinse remaining salt off cucumbers under cold water, then pat dry.
- In a small bowl, whisk together rice wine vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, honey, garlic, and remaining kosher salt. 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tbsp fresh ginger root, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tsp honey, 1 clove garlic
- In a large bowl, place drained cucumbers, onion, cilantro, chile pepper, and scallions. 4 cups cucumbers, ½ cup red onion, ¼ cup cilantro, ½ chile pepper, 2 scallions
- Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately. 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Notes
- Don’t skip salting the cucumbers. If you do, the excess water will pool at the bottom of your serving bowl.
- A mandoline is the quickest way to slice the cucumber thinly. You can do it by hand with a knife, but get the slices as thin as you can.
- Slice the red onion as finely as you can so that it’s not too overpowering.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
