SUBSCRIBE
x
5 from 2 votes

Easy Thai-Inspired Cucumber Salad 🥗

By Nicole Modic ⎯
 May 16, 2024
Jump to Recipe

If you’re looking for a simple and easy recipe that’s perfect as a side dish or quick and easy snack, then look no further than this! This is my Easy Thai-Inspired Cucumber Salad and it is a delicious, crunchy salad that is filled with cucumbers, red onions, Thai chilis, and peanuts, finished off with a toasted sesame dressing. Plus, it comes together in just 10 minutes, so run to your kitchen and make it ASAP!

A vibrant salad in a light blue bowl features sliced cucumbers, red onion, chopped red chili peppers, cilantro, and peanuts. A spoon is held above, pouring dressing over the salad. Fresh herbs, a knife, and a partially cut lime are visible around the bowl.

Friends, if there is one dish that I am OBSESSED with in the summertime, it’s a crunchy cucumber salad. Loaded with thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion, and topped off with a creamy dressing, there is truly no salad that is better. And this Thai-Inspired Cucumber Salad may just be one of my new favorites!

This salad is crunchy and delicious, and includes salted peanuts, cilantro, and Thai chilis for that perfect, spicy kicks. Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines, and while I’m not claiming that this is a traditional Thai recipe, I love that it includes some of my favorite Thai flavors. It pairs perfectly with recipes like my Quick & Easy 10-Minute Rice Noodles With Spicy Peanut Sauce or my Teriyaki Broiled Salmon for a balanced, well-rounded dinner.

And if you’re looking to make the perfect vegetarian-friendly meal, I highly recommend pairing this salad alongside my favorite Thai-Inspired Crispy Tofu Wraps. These wraps are packed with so many veggies and delicious crispy tofu for a match made in heaven! Or, simply enjoy this delicious cucumber salad all on its own. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, you truly can’t go wrong!

A spread of ingredients on a table for preparing a dish, including sliced cucumbers, chopped peanuts, lime halves, garlic cloves, red chili peppers, fresh cilantro, and bowls of soy sauce, oil, and dressing in a glass bowl with a spoon.
To make this salad, you will need Persian cucumbers, red onion, salted peanuts, cilantro, Thai chilis, toasted sesame oil, lime, fish sauce, garlic, and honey.
Top-down view of a kitchen scene: sliced and whole cucumbers on a wooden cutting board with a chef's knife, surrounded by bowls of sliced red onions, chopped peanuts, herbs, and sliced chilis, with various ingredients like lime, garlic, honey, and soy sauce.
Slice the cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and Thai chilis, and add them to a large bowl. For the cucumbers, I like to slice them with a handheld mandolin to get them nice and thin, but this is optional.

What You Need to Make This Thai-Inspired, Veggie-Packed Salad

  • Persian Cucumbers: Petite, Persian cucumbers are perfect for this salad. They are small and crunchy, and they taste absolutely delicious in this salad!
  • Red Onion: Sliced red onion adds the perfect amount of tang, and, not to mention, a beautiful bright red color!
  • Salted Peanuts: Crunchy, salted peanuts are a staple in Thai cuisine, which means that they are perfect in this salad!
  • Cilantro: I love adding in lots of cilantro for that delicious, herby flavor.
A vibrant salad in a blue bowl featuring sliced cucumbers, red onion, chopped peanuts, red chili slices, and fresh cilantro, set on a tiled surface. Surrounding the bowl are fresh cilantro, a lime wedge, a small bowl of peanuts, and a cutting board with dressing.
Add the cucumbers, Thai chilis, red onion, cilantro, and crushed peanuts to a bowl.
  • Thai Chilis: Thai chilis add the perfect amount of heat to this salad. If you can’t find Thai chilis, you can also replace them with Serrano peppers. And if you don’t like the heat, you can always omit them all-together.
  • Toasted Sesame Oil: The base of this dressing comes together with toasted sesame oil, which adds a rich and delicious flavor to this salad.
  • Lime:  Lime juice adds a nice balance of acid to this salad and gives the perfect finishing touch.
  • Fish Sauce: Some people love it, some people hate it, but personally, I love fish sauce! You can also substitute in a vegan fish sauce to make this recipe vegan / vegetarian friendly, if you want.
  • Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. It adds the best flavor to this dressing!
  • Honey: Honey adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the dressing!
A vibrant cucumber salad is served in a large light blue bowl with a gold serving spoon. The salad includes sliced cucumbers, red onion, chili peppers, and fresh herbs. Surrounding the main bowl are wooden bowls, one with salad and one with chopped nuts, alongside a glass of water and gold cutlery.
Next, prepare the dressing. Add the toasted sesame oil, lime, fish sauce, garlic, and honey to a large measuring cup or bowl and whisk until they’re fully combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Once the dressing is done, pour it over the salad and toss until the ingredients are fully coated in the dressing.

How to Make This Simple & Easy Cucumber Salad

To prepare this cucumber salad, start by preparing the produce. Slice the cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and Thai chilis, and add them to a large bowl. For the cucumbers, I like to slice them with a handheld mandolin to get them nice and thin, but this is optional. Then, crush the salted peanuts and add them to the same bowl. I like to add the peanuts to a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin, until they are nice and fine.

Next, prepare the dressing. Add the toasted sesame oil, lime, fish sauce, garlic, and honey to a large measuring cup or bowl and whisk until they’re fully combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Once the dressing is done, pour it over the salad and toss until the ingredients are fully coated in the dressing. Serve immediately and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim
A vibrant salad in a light blue bowl features sliced cucumbers, red onion, chopped red chili peppers, cilantro, and peanuts. A spoon is held above, pouring dressing over the salad. Fresh herbs, a knife, and a partially cut lime are visible around the bowl.
Dairy Free/gluten-free/Grain Free/Refined Sugar Free

Easy Thai-Inspired Cucumber Salad

5 from 2 votes
Nicole Modic
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
SERVES 4 Servings
Print it Pin It
If you're looking for a simple and easy recipe that's perfect as a side dish or quick and easy snack, then look no further than this! This is my Easy Thai-Inspired Cucumber Salad and it is a delicious, crunchy salad that is filled with cucumbers, red onions, Thai chilis, and peanuts, finished off with a toasted sesame dressing. Plus, it comes together in just 10 minutes, so run to your kitchen and make it ASAP!

Equipment

  • 1 Mandolin this is optional, but I love using a handheld mandolin to get the cucumbers nice and thin!

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 8 Persian Cucumbers sliced thin – you
  • ½ Red Onion sliced very thin
  • ⅓ Cup Salted Peanuts crushed
  • ¼ Cup Cilantro finely chopped
  • 1-2 Thai Chilis thinly sliced with the seeds removed – you can also use Serrano chilis, if you cannot find Thai chilis

For the Dressing:

  • ¼ Cup Toasted Sesame Oil
  • 1 Lime juiced and zested
  • 1 Tablespoon Fish Sauce
  • 2 Cloves Garlic mashed
  • 2 Tablespoons Honey

Instructions

  • To prepare this cucumber salad, start by preparing the produce. Slice the cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and Thai chilis, and add them to a large bowl. For the cucumbers, I like to slice them with a handheld mandolin to get them nice and thin, but this is optional.
  • Then, crush the salted peanuts and add them to the same bowl. I like to add the peanuts to a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin, until they are nice and fine.
  • Next, prepare the dressing. Add the toasted sesame oil, lime, fish sauce, garlic, and honey to a large measuring cup or bowl and whisk until they're fully combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
  • Once the dressing is done, pour it over the salad and toss until the ingredients are fully coated in the dressing.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to see what you made – tag @kalejunkie
in your posts and I’ll re-share!

S
H
A
R
E

YOU MIGHT ALSO

Love These

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

Rate + Review

5 from 2 votes

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I'm Nicole!