My dad made this spicy cucumber salad all the time since I was little. Its bold, refreshing flavors and crunchy texture made it a frequent dinner side dish for as long as I could remember. It pairs beautifully with almost anything—hot or cold dishes, meat, seafood, or tofu. You can easily adjust the spice level depending on your mood: turn it up for heat lovers or dial it back for something milder.

A plate of spicy cucumber salad.

This is officially my most-made recipe of the year. I make it several times a week for my family because it’s incredibly easy, endlessly versatile, and so delicious.

What makes this spicy cucumber salad so addictive is the balance of flavors and textures. It’s sweet, tart, spicy, and refreshing, with that cool, crisp crunch that makes every bite satisfying.

Best of all, it comes together with just a handful of ingredients, making it the ultimate no-fuss summer side dish that never disappoints.

Ingredients for spicy cucumber salad
Ingredients For Spicy Cucumber Salad

Soy sauce is my family’s most-used seasoning. Since my husband is sensitive to soy, I have adapted to use coconut aminos in almost all of my Chinese recipes. It is a great soy-free alternative to soy sauce.

However, it is slightly sweeter and less salty than regular soy sauce. So if you are a regular soy sauce user like my parents, you need to adjust the usage accordingly.

I love using my Crispy Chili Oil in this easy cucumber salad. Since my grandma taught me the recipe, I prefer it more than any store-bought ones.

How to Make Your Spicy Cucumber Salad

2 piece of washed cucumbers on a chopping board.
Wash and cut the ends off your cucumbers.
A bamboo stick being Inserted through the cucumbers the long ways. There is a hand holding down the cucumber.
Insert your wooden skewer directly through your cucumbers long ways.
Make sure the wooden skewer is completely inserted into your cucumber before cutting.
Make sure your wooden skewer is completely inserted into your cucumber before cutting.
A knife starts slicing your cucumber down to the skewer. There is a hand holding down the cucumber. There is a stick through the middle of the cuucmber.
Start slicing your cucumber down to the skewer. You will spin the skewer as you continue to cut it.
A knife starts slicing your cucumber down to the skewer. There is a hand holding down the cucumber. There is a stick through the middle of the cuucmber.
Go all the way down until you get to the end of the cucumber.
A cucumber has slicing marks all throughout. There is a hand holding down the cucumber. There is a stick through the middle of the cuucmber.
Your cucumber will be evenly cut and ready to season.

Now Ready to add salt and then add the spicy dressing:

Remove the skewer, and gently stretch each side.
Remove the skewer, and gently stretch each side.
A plate of spirally cut cucumbers with salt on top.
Add in the salt and gently toss it to incorporate. Let it sit for 15 – 20 minutes to draw out the water.
A plate of spirally cut cucumbers.
Rinse off the water and salt a couple times and then pat dry.
A plate of spicy cucumbers that has chili sauce and garlic on top.
Add in the rest of the sauce.


How My Family Likes to Serve it

This spicy cucumber salad is best served chilled straight from the fridge. The cold crunch paired with the bold, spicy dressing is incredibly refreshing—especially alongside rich or savory dishes.

For extra texture and flair, top with toasted sesame seeds or chili flakes.

You can also serve this Spicy Cucumber Salad alongside any of my Asian Dishes for a fresh crunch!

Whenever I make Red Braised Ribs, my 5 year old would always ask, “Where are the spicy cucumbers?”

We also love serving this salad alongside my Sticky Asian Meatballs which are soy-free and so delicious for a weeknight dinner!

My Mongolian Beef that is sweet and savory is taken to another level when this crunchy spicy cucumber salad is served as a side dish.

I highly recommend making this for a dinner party the next time you get together with friends or family. You will go back for more when you taste how addictive the spice and subtle sweetness are in this recipe.

Get the recipe:Chinese Spicy Cucumber Salad {6 Ingredients}

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Refrigerate: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
My dad made this spicy cucumber salad all the time since I was little. Its bold, refreshing flavors and crunchy texture made it a dinner table essential for as long as I could remember. It pairs beautifully with almost anything—hot or cold dishes, meat, seafood or tofu. You can easily adjust the spice level depending on your mood: turn it up for heat lovers or dial it back for something milder.
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Ingredients

  • 2 long cucumber
  • 1/2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp chili oil, Homemade recipe linked
  • 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp sugar

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Wash cucumbers and cut the ends off of them. Then insert skewer through the cucumber, lengthwise.
  • Begin cutting even diagonal slices of the cucumber, you will continue by turning the cucumber or skewer, so that you achieve the spiral effect (See images in blog post).*
  • Continue to cut until you reach the end. You may then remove your skewer, and you will see a perfectly spiraled cucumber.
  • Add cucumber to a bowl, add salt, and gently toss to make sure coated. Then let sit for 15-20 minutes to allow any excess water to come out.
  • While that is sitting, assemble the sauce by mixing together the chili oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar, then set aside.
  • Then- rinse off salt and water a few times, and then pat dry.
  • Now- mix together the cucumbers with the sauce, then enjoy!

Notes

*You can also just cut the cucumbers into thin slices.

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.

Author: Shuang Shuang Liang
Course: Sides
Cuisine: Chinese