Cucumbers in Spicy Peanut SauceIngredients: Recipe
A refreshing and flavorful side dish featuring crisp English cucumbers tossed in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce, garnished with toasted peanuts and fresh parsley. Perfect as a light appetizer or accompaniment to Asian-inspired meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-cook, mixing
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cucumbers
- 2 English cucumbers
- 1 teaspoon salt
Peanut Sauce
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish
- 1/4 cup toasted peanuts, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare Cucumbers: Slice the English cucumbers into rounds or half-moons as preferred. Place them in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Toss to ensure even coating, then transfer the cucumbers to a colander to drain excess moisture for one hour.
- Make Peanut Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine and Garnish: After draining, pat the cucumbers dry with a paper towel to remove remaining moisture. Place them in a serving bowl, add 1/4 cup chopped toasted peanuts and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley. Pour the peanut sauce over the cucumbers and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Serve: Serve immediately at room temperature to enjoy the optimal flavor and crunchy texture of the cucumbers with the creamy, spicy peanut sauce.
Notes
- Allow cucumbers to drain for a full hour to prevent the dish from becoming watery.
- For extra heat, increase the chili flakes or add a splash of hot sauce to the peanut sauce.
- Use natural peanut butter for a healthier option without added sugars or oils.
- To make this dish vegan, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Can be prepared ahead; keep refrigerated but add peanuts and parsley just before serving for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (approximately 1 cup)
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: cucumber salad, peanut sauce, spicy cucumber, Asian side dish, vegetarian appetizer, no-cook salad
