This spicy marinated cucumber salad illustrates the best what simple recipe can be!
But simple doesn't mean you bypass flavors!! right?
Gal, are you the type we see in the movies chewing on raw veggies without any sauce or dip?
You can't just eat that cucumber in your kitchen raw like that! well, you can but it will by far not as delicious as this spicy cucumber salad.
Do you know the best tip to make a good cucumber salad? let it marinate! The spices will intermingle creating a very delightful flavor that it's far from just chewing on that raw cucumber.
BUT! don't marinate for too long! am sure you don't want to swim in cucumber spicy water hahahaha.
Cucumber is a fruit that, fortunately (or not to some) is not sweet!
Though it comes with high benefits like high content in water, (so it keeps you hydrated), high in vitamin K and Molybdenum, some vitamin C and some minerals like Copper and Phosphorus among others.
It needs to be married with something to enhance the flavor!
Our cucumber here has a smoky spicy, tart flavor and it's crunchy, a way to enjoy it as an entree or appetizer.
This healthy and simple cucumber recipe call for very few ingredients, actually, you just have cucumber, then play around with spices to create an awesome spicy marinated cucumber salad.
In normal circumstances, I'd have added onions, garlic, and ginger to add some dynamic but, my kids are not fun of raw garlic, which kid is! anyway?
So, add these spices and you will be in another lever lol.
I used smoked paprika (I love the way it smells), sweet paprika, cayenne, white & black pepper, and Sumac spice.
Sumac spice
Sumac is a spice made from dried berries that grow in Subtropical and Northern parts of Africa, Asia, and America. Though it's very famous in Middle Eastern cuisine.
Please note that this isn't the same poison sumac found in America!
Sumac is used to replacing citrus fruits in cuisine, in this spicy cucumber recipe I wanted to control the moisture. Hence the choice of sumac, creamy balsamic vinegar, etc…
If you don't have sumac in your country, you can order some from Amazon, otherwise, just omit it.
However, you will catch up with the soy balsamic sauce that gives this salad a sweet note.
Check on this summer melon-cucumber salad and here you've watermelon cucumber salad both are mouth-watering!
Soy balsamic sauce
I made the sauce with balsamic creamy vinegar, fermented soy sauce, honey, and some olive oil. It's really awesome. I prefer going for fermented soy sauce that has no sugar added.
I love letting the salad sit for 10 minutes to marinate, this is optional, but you'll love it if you do.
Don't add salt yet! otherwise, the cucumber is going to give a lot of water. Add salt just right before you serve your spicy cucumber salad.
Hope you'll love this spicy marinated cucumber salad, if you make it, leave me a word by commenting here below, I'd love to know how you got around with your cucumber salad.
Each day its a step to the unknown, make sure to laugh and keep a smile, the rest doesn't really matter.
Love you, Githu.
Spicy Marinated Cucumber Salad
Equipment
- large bowl
- Small bowl
- Sharp knife or mandoline
Ingredients
Spicy Marinated Cucumber Salad
- 1 big cucumber
- 1 tablespoon sumac spice
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ tablespoon sweet paprika
- pinch cayenne & black pepper
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon roasted sesame
Soy balsamic sauce
- 2 tablespoon balsamic creamy vinegar (without sugar please)
- 1 teaspoon fermented soy sauce (without sugar)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon healthy oil (I used olive oil)
Instructions
Soy balsamic sauce
- In a small bowl put all the ingredients and mix well.
Spicy Marinated Cucumber Salad
- Clean and slice cucumber thinly: use a sharp knife or a mandoline
- In a large bowl bring the sliced cucumber and the spices, don't add the salt
- Pour on top the soy balsamic sauce and mix well
- Leave the salad to marinate for 10 minutes
- Add salt taste, and serve
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