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Refreshing Cucumber Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

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Prep Time 12 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • For the Cucumber Salad
  • 2 English cucumbers or 4 small Persian cucumbers thinly sliced
  • 1 small red onion thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1 medium carrot shredded (optional)
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • For the Spicy Peanut Dressing
  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 –2 tsp sriracha or chili garlic sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 small garlic clove minced
  • 2 tbsp warm water as needed to thin

Instructions
 

  • Slice cucumbers into thin rounds or half-moons; add to a large bowl.
  • Add red onion, shredded carrot, cilantro, and sesame seeds to the bowl.
  • Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, sriracha, honey, ginger, and garlic until smooth.
  • Add warm water gradually until the dressing becomes pourable.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning—add more lime, honey, or sriracha as needed.
  • Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture.
  • Toss gently until everything is evenly coated without crushing the cucumbers.
  • Let the salad rest 5–10 minutes before serving.

Notes

English and Persian cucumbers stay crisp and less watery.
For extra crunch, salt the cucumbers for 10 minutes and pat dry before mixing.
Thin the dressing carefully; add water a little at a time.
Add-ins like cabbage, bell peppers, peanuts, jalapeños, mint, Thai basil, or edamame work great.