Thai-Style Peanut Cucumber Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Crunchy cucumbers and fresh veggies dressed in a creamy, tangy peanut sauce bursting with Thai flavors.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
03 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)

→ Creamy Peanut Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
13 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
14 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
15 - 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water, to thin as needed
16 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or sriracha (optional)

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, mix the thinly sliced cucumbers, julienned carrot, red onion, and roughly chopped cilantro.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, honey or maple syrup, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Gradually add warm water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches a smooth, pourable consistency. Stir in red pepper flakes or sriracha if a spicy note is desired.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetable mixture and gently toss to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle the chopped roasted peanuts and sesame seeds over the salad. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 30 minutes for a colder, crisper texture.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It takes barely any time and you don't have to cook a single thing, so it's perfect when you're already too warm.
  • The dressing is so good you'll want to put it on everything from noodles to grilled chicken.
  • You get that satisfying crunch in every bite without anything wilting or getting soggy too fast.
  • It's the kind of dish that tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did.
02 -
  • Don't skip thinning the peanut butter with warm water or you'll end up with clumps instead of a silky dressing that coats everything evenly.
  • If you dress the salad too far in advance, the cucumbers will start to weep and water down the dressing, so toss it just before serving for the best texture.
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it on and adjust the lime, honey, or soy sauce to your liking because peanut butters vary in saltiness and sweetness.
03 -
  • Use a mandoline or the slicing blade on a box grater to get perfectly thin, even cucumber slices without spending forever with a knife.
  • If your peanut butter is the natural kind with oil on top, stir it really well before measuring or the dressing will split and taste off.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for a minute or two before sprinkling them on, and the nutty aroma will be twice as strong.
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