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Thai Cucumber Salad – Easy, Refreshing & Flavorful Side Dish Recipe

4.4 from 143 reviews

Thai Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and flavorful side dish featuring thinly sliced cucumbers, shredded carrot, and red onion tossed in a tangy, slightly sweet, and mildly spicy dressing. Garnished with fresh cilantro and crushed peanuts, this salad is perfect as a light accompaniment to any Thai or Asian-inspired meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad:

  • 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium carrot, shredded or julienned
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ¼ cup crushed peanuts (optional)

Dressing:

  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar or honey
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vegetables: Thinly slice the cucumbers and red onion. Shred or julienne the carrot to create uniform pieces for easy mixing and better texture.
  2. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sugar or honey, minced garlic, salt, and red chili flakes until the sugar dissolves and the dressing is well combined.
  3. Combine the salad: In a large bowl, add the sliced cucumbers, red onion, shredded carrot, and chopped cilantro. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss everything gently but thoroughly to evenly coat the ingredients.
  4. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle crushed peanuts over the top for added crunch and flavor, if using. Serve the salad fresh for best taste and texture.
  5. Storage: The salad is best served immediately but can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • Use Persian or English cucumbers for extra crunch and thinner skin.
  • Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar or honey according to your taste.
  • Modify the spice level by adding or omitting red chili flakes.
  • Best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Keywords: Thai cucumber salad, easy cucumber salad, Asian side dish, refreshing salad, cucumber carrot salad