How do you keep cucumber salad from getting watery?

The solution: The standard recommendation for ridding watery vegetable such as cucumbers of unwanted moisture is to salt them . The salt draws out the liquid from the vegetable because of the natural tendency of salt water solutions to equalize when mixed together.

How do you keep cucumbers from getting soggy in salad?

Happily, salting cucumbers requires only 20 minutes or so and virtually no effort: You just put them in a colander or strainer, toss them with a big pinch of salt or two — the exact quantity doesn't matter, since most of the salt will flow away with the liquid — and let osmosis do its thing.

Do you peel cucumbers for salad?

Should you peel your cucumbers for cucumber salad? Again, it depends on the variety and maturity of the cucumber . English or Persian cucumbers have thin skins which you do not need to peel. Regular market cucumbers may have thicker peels that can be tough and bitter, so it's best to peel those.

What makes cucumbers taste better?

If you have a cucumber that's too bitter to eat, compost it. But, if the bitterness has concentrated near the stem and in the skin (where it's most likely to settle), peel the cucumber and slice off an inch or two near the stem. Many people sprinkle on salt or sugar to balance out the bitter taste.

How do you keep cucumbers crisp in cucumber salad?

Just place the slices or chunks in a colander over a bowl or sink. Sprinkle them with a couple of pinches of salt, toss to coat, and let them rest for about 30 minutes . Pat them dry with a paper towel and proceed with the recipe.

Why do you soak cucumbers in salt water?

This salt treatment draws water out of the cucumbers and flavors them , so it's critically important. After layering or mixing in plenty of sea salt, I cover the salted cukes with ice cubes and a tea towel and forget about them for a few hours.

Why is my cucumber salad bitter?

The actual cause of bitterness in cucumbers and other gourds, like zucchini, is due to a compound known as cucurbitacin. This compound is always present in cucumbers, but the levels change based on the growing process of the vegetables. The higher the level of cucurbitacin, the more bitter the cucumber.

Which cucumber is best for salad?

Persian Cucumbers They have a mild flavor and thin skins, so they're great sliced or chopped for salads and snacking, or even tossed in the blender to make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita.

Is A cucumber a fruit or a vegetable?

Botanically, Cucumbers Are Fruits Because cucumbers have seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of a cucumber plant, they are botanically a fruit. Botanical vegetables may be other edible structures of a plant, such as the leaves, stems and roots, and they do not have seeds.

How do I stop my salad from being watery?

Store your clean, dry salad in an airtight plastic container lined with paper towel . The paper towel will absorb any excess water, and the airtight container will keep the salad from wilting.

How do you keep salad from getting wet?

Method #1: Paper Towels and Plastic Bag Supposedly, the paper towels absorb excess moisture from the greens and keep them from getting slimy, and the sealed bag keeps excess air from circulating in and out, slowing down the wilting process.

How do you keep cucumbers firm?

Once you've washed and wrapped them, the best way to store cucumbers is in the crisper drawer (a.k.a. produce drawer) of your fridge, set on high humidity with the fan closed . High humidity helps the ethylene-sensitive fruit retain moisture and keeps it from wilting.

How do you fix a watery salad?

If neither more tuna, potatoes, nor eggs solves the problem, it's time to consider mixing in super dry, starchy ingredients. To soak up liquids like a sponge, pantry staples like pasta or even croutons are complete game-changers that will restore a soggy salad.

Sesame Cucumber Salad Recipe - Vegan

Budget Bytes » Recipes » Salad Recipes » Sesame Cucumber Salad

$2.44 recipe / $0.41 serving

by Beth - Budget Bytes

published Jul 15, 2009updated Jul 9, 2020

4.89 from 95 votes

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This salad is one of the very first recipes I ever posted on Budget Bytes. Like, way back when I was still taking photos with my pre-smart-phone era phone. Yikes! Because this Sesame Cucumber Salad is still one of my favorite dishes and my favorite way to use up all those delicious and inexpensive summer cucumbers, I had to repost it and give it the proper attention it needs. So, if this Sesame Cucumber recipe is new to you, I hope it becomes one of your go-to fav’s as it has for me. It will serve you well!

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Do I Have to Use Rice Vinegar?

I strongly urge you not to substitute the rice vinegar in this recipe. Rice vinegar has a uniquely mild flavor and acidity that is just perfect for this recipe. While people have substituted the rice vinegar with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, I find them both a bit too strong for this recipe. Also, be mindful not to use “seasoned” rice vinegar, which has other ingredients added and tastes quite different.

Where Do You Find Rice Vinegar?

Rice vinegar is fairly inexpensive, can be found in the Asian section of most major grocery stores, and will stay good in your pantry for just about forever. If you make Budget Bytes recipes on the regular, I promise it will get used again! In fact, here is a direct link to all the recipes on my website that use Rice Vinegar.

What is Toasted Sesame Oil?

The other key ingredient in this cucumber salad is toasted sesame oil. Unlike regular sesame oil,toasted sesame oil has a very strong nutty flavor and a little bit can really add a LOT of flavor to any dish. You can find toasted sesame oil in the international aisle of most major grocery stores, or Asian grocery stores. It may not say “toasted” on the label, but you’ll know it is toasted by the deep walnut color. Untoasted sesame oil is a light straw color, like canola oil.

How Long Does This Salad Last?

This salad does get kind of limp in the refrigerator fairly quickly, but it’s still insanely good once the cucumbers soften. They’re almost like pickled cucumber slices at that point. They’ve been marinating in the spicy-sweet vinegar solution and are just totally delicious! I enjoy this salad for about 2-3 days after making it (if I don’t eat it all sooner). If you like your cucumbers to stay crunchy, try cutting them into chunks instead of thin slices.

Sesame Cucumber Salad

4.89 from 95 votes

Sesame Cucumber Salad is light, refreshing, and vibrant in flavor. It's the perfect summer side dish or companion to any Southeast Asian inspired meal.

Author: Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1/3 cup rice vinegar ($0.70)
2 Tbsp granulated sugar ($0.02)
1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil ($0.05)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper ($0.02)
1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
2 large cucumbers ($1.38)
3 green onions ($0.13)
1/4 cup chopped peanuts ($0.12)

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, crushed red pepper, and salt. Set the dressing aside.
Peel and slice the cucumber using your favorite method (see photos below for my technique). Place the sliced cucumbers in a large bowl.
Chop the peanuts into smaller pieces. Slice the green onions.
Add the peanuts, green onions, and dressing to the sliced cucumbers. Stir to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat. Give the salad a brief stir before serving to redistribute the dressing and flavors.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 62.82kcalCarbohydrates: 7.63gProtein: 1.87gFat: 3.1gSodium: 199.82mgFiber: 1.4g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

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Video

Scroll down for the step by step photos!

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How to Make Sesame Cucumber Salad – Step by Step Photos

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Start by making the dressing. In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup rice vinegar, 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp salt. Set the dressing aside.

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Here is the toasted sesame oil and rice vinegar that I used. The sesame oil is from Aldi and the rice vinegar is from Kroger.

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Peel and slice two large cucumbers however you like. I like to remove strips of the peel to create a cool striped effect once they’re sliced. If you don’t like cucumber seeds, you can slice the cucumber lengthwise before slicing into rounds and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds in the center.

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I prefer thin slices so that there is more surface area to come into contact with the dressing. The thinner slices will become soft and wobbly after storing them in the dressing, but I kind of like that, too. If you prefer them to stay crunchy longer, you’ll want to do thicker slices.

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Roughly chop 1/4 cup peanuts and slice 3 green onions.

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Place the sliced cucumbers in a large bowl, add the sliced green onion and chopped peanuts, then pour the dressing over top.

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Finally, stir it all up and you’re ready to eat! Serve it immediately or refrigerate for later.

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The flavors do get really good as it sits in the fridge, although the cucumbers get softer (some people don’t like that–I kind of do!). Either way, this Thai Cucumber Salad is super refreshing and delicious. It always has been and always will be my favorite!

TRY THESE OTHER CUCUMBER SALADS:

Creamy Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Cucumber Mango Salad
Cucumber and Black Bean Salad

Sesame Cucumber Salad Recipe - Vegan - Budget Bytes (2024)