Easy-Pickled Cucumber Salad: Asian Style

By Sho @ Hungry for Thai on Feb 5th 2025

This salad is loaded with fresh, crunchy cucumbers and zesty pickles. It’s perfect for summer salad recipes and works well as a side dish for many meals.

What you'll need

• Cucumber – Crisp, refreshing, and hydrating, this green gem adds the perfect crunch to your salad.
• Soy Sauce – A rich, savory splash of umami goodness that ties all the flavors together beautifully.
• Rice Vinegar – Light and tangy, bringing a gentle acidity that brightens up the dish.
• Brown Sugar – A touch of natural sweetness that balances out the salty and tangy notes.
• Sesame Oil – Deeply aromatic with a nutty richness, adding warmth and depth to the dressing.
• Roasted Sesame Seeds – Tiny bursts of toasty, nutty crunch that enhance both flavor and texture.

If you’ve ever wandered through the bustling night markets of Asia—whether in Japan, Korea, or Thailand—you know the magic of street food. The sizzling grills, the rich aromas, and the vibrant flavors all come together to create some of the most crave-worthy bites. One dish that always catches my eye (and my taste buds!) is a simple, yet totally irresistible pickled cucumber salad.

This little gem is the perfect sidekick to grilled meats, fried dishes like Chick fil a nuggets, a bowl of fluffy rice, or even a spicy stir-fry. It’s crisp, refreshing, and just the right mix of tangy, savory, and slightly sweet. The secret? A quick soak in a delicious blend of rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and a sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds—all coming together to create that perfect balance of flavors.