Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe (Sunomono)

My mom has made this Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe for years, and I love the tang from the vinegar and the sweetness and saltiness. This is the salad served in Japanese restaurants that is usually a delicious side dish in your bento box.

Another word for this dish is sunomono salad. You only need a few ingredients for this recipe, cucumbers, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. For a bonus, sprinkle a few black sesame seeds on top, and your refreshing crunchy side dish is ready to eat.

Hey there, friends!

I just wanted to let you know that this post is part of a fun blog hop featuring soup and salad recipes! So, check out my friend’s recipes at the bottom of this post. I see some delicious soups and salads that look like timeless family-favorite recipes.

But before we make this sunomono recipe, let’s look at my other easy recipes.

• Honey Baked Chicken Wings Recipe
• Asian Noodle Salad with Toasted Sesame Dressing
• Salmon Teriyaki Bento Box

If you like Japanese food, then I’m sure you’ll like this cucumber salad. It is a traditional Japanese cucumber salad recipe. I’ve added some sweet and spicy jalapeno peppers to my recipe to add a little kick.

I know a lot of chefs would not recommend regular cucumbers from your local grocery store for this recipe, but not many of you can probably find Japanese cucumbers. If you’re like me, the Asian supermarkets are far away from my home, so I pick up my cucumbers at our local grocery store.

I’m not too concerned about the right cucumber for this recipe since I feel it’s good no matter what you use. So, go ahead and buy your cucumbers, but if you can find English or Persian cucumbers, those will be excellent substitutes. To avoid the extra seeds and thick skin, I have a few tricks that help.

Tips for Making Cucumber Sunomono Salad

1. Here’s the thing about using Japanese cucumbers when you can. They are smaller and thinner than traditional cucumbers and have a sweeter and more delicate flavor. They also have fewer seeds and thinner skin, which makes them easier to eat.
2. If your cucumber has thick skin, peel the skin before making this recipe. You can peel it sparsely and create cute green stripes for an added design.
3. Slice the cucumber in half lengthways and scoop out the middle sections that contain the seeds. The middle holds water, so you’ll want to remove it, so it doesn’t dilute the sauce.
4. Slice the cucumbers as thinly as possible, preferably using a mandolin or a sharp knife. This will allow the cucumbers to absorb the dressing and create a more flavorful salad.
5. After slicing the cucumbers, sprinkle them with salt and let them sit for a few minutes. This will draw out any excess moisture. Then slightly squeeze out the excess water.
6. If you prefer you can use rice vinegar for this Japanese cucumber salad. It gives it a sweet and tangy flavor. You can also add a little bit of honey to the dressing for extra sweetness.
7. Japanese cucumber salad can be customized with a variety of other ingredients such as sliced onions, seaweed, shredded carrots, sesame seeds, or toasted sesame oil. Be creative and experiment with different combinations of ingredients.
8. After mixing the cucumbers with the dressing and any other ingredients, refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and make the salad even more refreshing.

Some Great Tools to Use for This Salad

Vegetable Peelers – When you peel cucumbers, this vegetable peeler is hands down the best. It’s like the Cadillac of peelers.

Mandolin – I own my grandma’s mandolin slicer that she probably bought in an Asian market. But you can buy one through this link.

The Different Types of Cucumbers

1. Japanese cucumber, also known as Kyuri, is a type of cucumber that is widely used in Japanese cuisine. They are long and slender, with thin skin that is often eaten along with the flesh. These cucumbers have a crisp texture and a mild, slightly sweet flavor, and are often used in salads, sushi rolls, and as a garnish. They are similar to English cucumbers in appearance and taste but are generally thinner and more delicate.
2. English cucumbers have a thinner skin, fewer seeds, and a more mild flavor than other types of cucumbers. They are usually longer and narrower than other cucumbers and are often used in salads or as a garnish.
3. Pickling cucumbers are smaller and shorter than other types of cucumbers, with bumpy skin and a firm texture. They are often used for making pickles or relishes, but can also be sliced and used in salads.
4. Persian cucumbers are smaller and thinner than other types of cucumbers, with sweet and crunchy flesh. They are often used in salads or as a snack.
5. Slicing cucumbers are the most common type of cucumber, with dark green skin, large seeds, and a slightly bitter flavor. They are often used in salads, sandwiches, or garnish.
6. Lemon cucumbers are round and yellow, with a mild and sweet flavor. They are often used in salads or as a decorative garnish.
7. Armenian cucumbers are long and thin with a slightly curved shape. They have a crisp texture and a mild flavor and are often used in salads or pickled.
8. Lemon cucumbers are round and yellow, with a mild and sweet flavor. They are often used in salads or as a decorative garnish.

Now that you are informed about everything to do with this Japanese cucumber salad recipe, let’s take a look at how to make it.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Cucumbers
• Salt
• Mirin (It’s a Japanese sweet white cooking wine. You can use a sweet white wine if you prefer)
• Sugar
• Vinegar (You can use white or rice vinegar)
• Soy Sauce (You can use Tamari sauce which is gluten-free)
• Sweet Heat Jalapeno Peppers (optional)

How to Make This Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe

Step 1 – Prep Cucumbers

Peel cucumbers and cut them length-wise. Next scrape out the seeds in the middle with a small spoon.

Step 2 – Slice Cucumbers

Thinly slice the cucumber halves with a mandolin or knife.

Step 3 – Salt Cucumbers

Sprinkle with salt, mix, and set aside for an hour. This step draws out the excess cucumber juices.

Step 4 – Drain Cucumbers

Rinse and drain cucumbers. Squeeze out excess water.

Step 5 – Make Sauce

Combine mirin, sugar, vinegar, and soy in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolved. Pour over cucumbers, and add a few chopped sweet jalapeno peppers if you like. Mix and chill for an hour before serving. Sprinkle white or black sesame on the salad if desired.

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Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe – Sunomono

My mom has made this Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe for years, and I love the tang from the vinegar and the sweetness and saltiness. This is the salad served in Japanese restaurants that is usually a delicious side dish in your bento box.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Resting Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Salad

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: Asian Chicken Salad, Calamari Salad, cucumber, cucumber salad, easy recipes, Japnanese cucumber salad, Salad Recipe

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 43kcal

Ingredients

• 2 cucumbers peeled and sliced
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp Mirin
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 4 tbsp white vinegar or rice vinegar
• 1 tsp soy sauce you can use tamari sauce that is gluten-free
• 2 tbsp sweet jalapeno peppers chopped

Instructions

Cucumber Prep

• Peel cucumbers and cut them length-wise. Next, scrape out the seeds in the middle with a small spoon.
• Thinly slice the cucumber halves with a mandolin or knife.
• Sprinkle with salt, mix, and set aside for an hour. This step draws out the excess cucumber juices.
• Rinse and drain cucumbers. Squeeze out excess water.

Sauce

• Combine mirin, sugar, vinegar, and soy in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolved. Pour over cucumbers, and add a few chopped sweet jalapeno peppers if you like.
• Mix and chill for an hour before serving.
• Sprinkle white or black sesame on top of the salad.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 1315mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @happyhappynester or tag #happyhappynester!

Enjoy this crunchy salad to complete a Japanese meal. I love adding it to my teriyaki salmon and miso soup. The added crunch and freshness are a nice compliment to the other dishes.

Thanks for your visit and welcome if you’re new to my website. Enjoy this Asian cucumber salad and I’m sure you’ll love this wonderful dish.

Cheers,

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Janine Waite

I named my blog Happy Happy Nester because I love everything related to the home. I’ve always enjoyed decorating my surroundings. Get cozy and stay for a bit, thanks for visiting!

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