Refreshing Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono) Recipe
A refreshing and light Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono) featuring thinly sliced cucumbers marinated in a sweet and tangy rice vinegar dressing, garnished with toasted sesame seeds. Perfect as a crisp side dish to complement any meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Cucumbers
- 2 medium Japanese cucumbers or English cucumbers, thinly sliced
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Slice the cucumbers: Use a sharp knife or mandoline to thinly slice the cucumbers into rounds. This thin slicing helps the cucumbers soak up the dressing and adds a pleasant crunch.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Stir well until the sugar and salt are fully dissolved to create a balanced sweet and tangy dressing.
- Toss cucumbers with dressing: Place the sliced cucumbers in a mixing bowl and pour the dressing over them. Toss everything together until the cucumbers are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill before serving: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the cucumbers to marinate properly.
- Garnish and serve: Before serving, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the salad for an added nutty flavor and subtle crunch.
Notes
- Use Japanese cucumbers if possible for their thin skin and fewer seeds, but English cucumbers are a good substitute.
- Adjust sugar quantity according to your desired sweetness.
- Chilling the salad improves the flavor, but it can be served immediately if short on time.
- For added texture, optionally add a few thin slices of wakame seaweed or thinly sliced carrots.
- Toast sesame seeds lightly in a dry pan to enhance their flavor before using.
Keywords: Japanese cucumber salad, Sunomono, cucumber salad, rice vinegar salad, Japanese side dish, refreshing salad
