It's time for the Secret Recipe Club again! The SRC is a not so secret club where you're secretly assigned a blog every month to choose a recipe from. This month, I got Little Bit of Everything. Julie's got lots of tasty eats - Bubble Up Pizza, Basil Pesto Chicken, and Five Spiced Chicken Breasts with Hosin Sauce, for example. I chose to make the Chinese Cucumber Salad. With the hot summer weather, who doesn't want a refreshing side or snack? I've made a few different versions of this cucumber salad before, for example Seaweed Cucumber Salad, Sesame Cucumber Salad, and Sweet and Tangy Cucumber Salad. One difference I noticed with Julie's recipe was soaking the cucumber in a brine solution first. So, I thought I'd try her version and see what the difference was. All in the name of experimentation! Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll use the brine next time. Aside from just taking a while, it made the cucumbers really salty. If you go with the brine soak, I'd recommend rinsing the cucumbers really well afterward and decreasing the amount of soy sauce used. However, aside from the saltiness, we really liked this cucumber salad. The bit of chili pepper played well against the coolness of the cucumbers, and the sesame added just a bit of nice flavor.
Chinese Cucumber Salad
by CJ HuangPrep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Yield: 4 servings
Materials:
| Mass | Weight | Volume | Number | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270 grams | 9.5 ounces | 1 | cucumber, sliced and quartered | ||
| 1 tablespoon | sesame seeds | ||||
| 1 tablespoon | red wine vinegar | ||||
| 2 tablespoons | salt | ||||
| 1 tablespoon | soy sauce | ||||
| 1 teaspoon | sesame oil | ||||
| 1 teaspoon | chili pepper flakes |
Methods:
- Gather all materials.
- Dissolve salt in enough water to cover cucumber by about 1 inch. Soak for about 30 minutes, then rinse well and drain. A salad spinner may be helpful here. (optional)
- Combine all materials and mix.
Methods with Images:
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1. Gather all materials. |
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2. Dissolve salt in enough water to cover cucumber by about 1 inch. Soak for about 30 minutes, then rinse well and drain. A salad spinner may be helpful here. (optional) |
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3. Combine all materials and mix. |
I love cucumber salads like this. And with a cucumber plant in my garden that has a gazillion blooms, I'll be making this one as soon as I my kitchen counter is full of cucumbers. Great SRC choice.
ReplyDeleteWe have a great cucumber harvest right now and this is a great recipe to try, it is just packed with flavor. Hope you have a great week.
ReplyDeleteMiz Helen
I love finding recipes that just scream summer. What is more delicious or cooling than a cucunber salad. Can't wait to try this recipe
ReplyDeleteSuch a unique and different variation of cucumber salad! Great SRC choice!
ReplyDeleteIt is cucumber season and this is the perfect recipe to use them up.
ReplyDeleteHow fun we both had each other for SRC. I love this recipe, we make it all the time. I think the salt soak helps with the crispness.
ReplyDeleteYou're making me wish I had a cucumber plant! This cucumber salad was simple and tasty, my favorite combo. :)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is packed with flavor! Sounds like you've got a plan for your cucumbers. :)
ReplyDeleteFor real! So simple and refreshing. :)
ReplyDeleteI always like trying out new versions of "old" recipes. :)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is! Try a few different variations if you've got lots of cucumbers. :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed - what a fun coincidence! I can see how the salt soak would help with crispness. Maybe I'll skip the soy sauce next time. :)
ReplyDelete