If you’re gonna go green… make Asian cucumber salad

It’s not St. Patrick’s Day without the color green. So, we’re going green in the kitchen! We’re rolling out a range of recipes that you can add to your St. Patty spread.

Alex Daynes kicked the green food dye for a fresher (and healthier!) alternative: Asian cucumber salad. It’s light, refreshing, and the perfect side dish!

Alex shared the key to a crunchy and crisped cucumber salad: remove as much water from the cucumbers as possible. Before you throw the salad together, let the cucumbers drain in a colander for about 15 minutes. Rinse, and pat dry. You don’t want the cucumber juice to water down your dressing.

The longer this salad sits, the more delicious it gets. Let the flavors marinate together and sink into the cucumbers. If you like a little spicy kick, Alex says that red pepper flakes, chili oil, or chili flakes are great ingredients to add heat.

Find Alex’s full notes for this salad here.

Asian Cucumber Salad

PREP TIME 5 minutes
ADDITIONAL TIME 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2-4 cucumbers, sliced into thin disks
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 Tablespoon mined garlic
• 1 Tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds

METHOD

1. Slice the cucumbers into thin disks to your preference. Place them in a colander and sprinkle generously with salt to help them release water. Let this stand while you gather the remaining ingredients.
2. Rinse the cucumbers and pat dry. Add to a bowl.
3. Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds in a small bowl.
4. Add the dressing to the cucumber slices and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Alex has always loved to cook! The kitchen is her happy place. Alex’s core belief is that life is better when it tastes better. She’s an advocate for simple and easy recipes that anyone can nail at home. Alex’s kitchen is a space where love and creativity combine. While her heart belongs to desserts, her website is home to all sorts of delicious recipes. It’s a blog to bookmark for all of your recipe needs! Find more from Alex on Instagram, @thealexdaynes, or on her website, alexdaynes.com.