5-Minute Sesame Cucumber Salad

Why You'll Love this Cucumber Salad

• Light and refreshing
• Fresh, crisp cucumbers with the perfect balance of flavors
• Quick and easy to throw together
• Impressive and gourmet
• Versatile
• Nutritious

Ingredients

This delicious salad literally comes together in minutes using the following 10 ingredients (see the full recipe at the bottom of the post for quantities):

• Persian cucumbers: Persian cucumbers are crisp, bite-sized, firm, easy to slice and don't have many seeds. There is no need to peel them as their skin is thin (unlike regular cucumbers with waxy skin).
• Red onion: The onion adds a little sharpness as well as a pop of color.
• Toasted sesame seeds: Adds a nutty crunch.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Choose good quality olive oil here for a hint of buttery, fruity flavor.
• Toasted sesame oil: Make sure it is toasted! Toasted sesame oil has a dark color whereas regular sesame oil is more yellow and does not have the same intense flavor. It has very intense flavor but it is balanced out well by the olive oil.
• Fresh lime juice: The lime juice provides a little acidity without the need for vinegar which can be overpowering.
• Fresh cilantro: Adds a pop of flavor and brightens the dish along with the lime.
• Tahini: The drizzle of nutty tahini gives the salad a little richness and creaminess. Its slightly bitter flavor is completely offset by the date syrup.
• Date syrup: This ingredient is not to be skipped! Its sweet flavor balances out the salad and is a key component despite using just a drizzle.
• Salt: A little salt brings out all the flavors, but also serves a unique role in drawing out excess moisture from the cucumbers to keep them more crisp!

How to Make this Sesame Cucumber Salad

My favorite thing about this salad is just how quick it is to prepare. Plus, I get to pull out the mandoline for easy, even, paper-thin slicing! Using a mandoline is efficient, fun and the best way for slicing both the cucumbers and onion. I like setting it to level 2 for the cucumbers and level 1 for the onion, but the thickness of each is entirely up to you.

1. Thinly slice the fresh cucumbers and onion. I highly recommend using a mandoline, but if you don't have one use a sharp knife to cut them into thin slices.

2. Toss all ingredients in a small mixing bowl.

3. Taste and adjust flavors as desired.

Recipe Tips

Chill the cucumbers before slicing. This dish is best served immediately while cold and crisp. The sliced cucumbers will naturally soften a bit once dressed, so if the cucumbers aren't chilled then you'll either need to refrigerate the salad to enjoy later (not as crisp) or enjoy at room temperature (not as cold). Chilling the cucumbers gives you the best of both!

Sprinkle in hemp seeds for added protein. The salad already has a little protein from the sesame seeds and tahini, but adding hemp seeds gives it a nice boost. It pairs perfectly with this dish and looks nice too!

Adjust to taste. The toasted sesame oil is strong, so start with less and add more if you want more sesame flavor. I tend to go heavy handed on the tahini and date syrup, as these two ingredients are what make the dish so unique.

Modifications

• Cucumbers: If you don't have Persian cucumbers, mini English cucumbers are a good substitute as both have a mildly sweet flavor thin skin (no peeling necessary). They also have fewer seeds than other varieties of cucumbers. Regular cucumbers have thicker, waxier skin which would require peeling in advance. You can use regular cucumbers here but the results will just be slightly different. If you do, I would recommend peeling them.
• Onions: Red onions give a dash of spiciness which I prefer, but feel free to use white or yellow onions instead. Green onions or shallots will also work!

Serving Suggestions

Bring this cold side salad to a BBQ or pack it up for a relaxing picnic. I usually enjoy it as a pre-dinner snack! It also pairs perfectly alongside the following:

• Thai coconut curry soup
• Summer rolls
• Homemade sushi
• Burgers - these portobello mushrooms or this grillable quinoa black bean burger!

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The salad holds up well, but it will continue to get soggier the longer it sits. Therefore, I recommend enjoying immediately or the next day for best results.

What Makes this Salad so Healthy?

As you could guess from the name, the two main ingredients in this recipe are cucumbers and sesame (from the sesame seeds, sesame oil and tahini).

Cucumbers have a high water content and therefore are very hydrating (and refreshing!). They are low in calories and provide vitamin C, vitamin K and dietary fiber which helps with digestion.

Sesame seeds contain B vitamins as well as important minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. Sesame oil is derived from sesame seeds and tahini is made from grinding sesame seeds into a paste.

More Fresh Summer Salads

Here are other go-to recipes for when you need a simple side dish this summer:

• Easy Southwestern Jicama Black Bean Slaw
• Watermelon Avocado Mint Feta Salad
• 15-Minute Vegan Potato Salad
• Vegan Summer Slaw
• Tahini Pasta Salad

More Simple Recipes with Cucumber

• Easy Greek Cucumber Salad
• Cucumber Beet Salad with Garlic Dill Dressing
• Quinoa Tabbouleh
• Cucumber Melon Spritzer
• 5-Ingredient Tropical Cucumber Pineapple Smoothie