Sesame Cucumber Salad

5 from 9 votes

May 26, 2021, Updated Jul 27, 2025

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Searching for the perfect summer salad? This sesame cucumber salad is cool, crisp, and full of flavor! Nutty sesame oil and tangy rice vinegar make the dressing sing, while thin slices of jalapeño bring just the right amount of heat, kind of like the onion in a classic cucumber and onion salad, but with a spicy twist.

sesame cucumber salad served in a white salad bowl

5 Star Review

“This was delicious… I used toasted sesame seed oil and regular basil from my plant… We will definitely use this recipe often.” – Laurie

Light & Refreshing Summer Salad

You’ve probably heard of the famous cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Those elements are supposed to be the basis of good cooking, and they’re all here in this amazing and healthy side dish. This sesame cucumber salad recipe is one of my favorite quick sides for summer; it’s easy, fresh, and flavorful with a spicy little kick. We’ve got just a touch of salt to season our base of yummy sliced cucumber. We’ve got the smooth, savory taste of sesame oil. There’s a hint of acidity from cool, bright rice vinegar. And of course, the heat of chopped jalapeno.

Why You’ll Love This Sesame Cucumber Salad

Flavor that slaps. The combo of toasty sesame oil, tangy rice vinegar, and spicy jalapeño makes this salad anything but boring. It’s bold, balanced, and seriously addictive.
Summer-friendly. Cool, crisp cucumbers = instant refreshment. This salad is light, hydrating, and made for hot days (and hot grills).
Not your average side dish. Tired of the same old garden salad? Even if it’s my favorite chopped egg, cucumber, and tomato salad, this one brings a fun Asian-inspired twist that’ll wake up your plate and your taste buds.
Even better cold. Let the cucumber salad chill for a bit, and the flavors just get more delicious. It might actually be better straight from the fridge.

slices of cucumbers topped with sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, and green onions

What You’ll Need

For this sesame cucumber salad recipe, I use long English cucumbers, but you can substitute any cucumbers you like. Make sure to peel them if the rind tastes bitter.

Cucumbers: Thinly slice two long English cucumbers. This is the base of the salad.
Cilantro: You’ll need ¼ cup of chopped fresh cilantro.
Jalapeño: Remove the seeds and ribs from a fresh jalapeño pepper, and finely mince 2-3 tablespoons of the green part. Wear gloves for protection. OR just don’t touch your eyes ever again. Been there. 🙃
Green Onions: You’ll need two green onions, thinly sliced.
Rice Vinegar: To dress the salad, I start with three tablespoons of this light and refreshing vinegar.
Sesame Oil: Sesame oil gives a delicious nutty taste to the salad.
Sugar: I like to lightly sweeten my salad dressing with ½ teaspoon of granulated sugar. You could also use honey or syrup, to taste.
Salt: Add salt to taste. I start with ¼ teaspoon and adjust it in the end, if needed.
Garnishes: I like to garnish this salad with red pepper flakes, Thai basil, and a tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds.

How to Make The Best Sesame Cucumber Salad

I love this summer salad because it’s so versatile. You can serve it with anything from grilled chicken to garlic guajillo steak to roasted branzino. Plus, it’s fast to make!

slices of cucumbers in a white salad bowl

Combine the veggies: Place the sliced cucumbers in a salad bowl. Add the cilantro, minced jalapeno, and green onions; gently toss to combine.
Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and salt.
Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture and toss to combine. Taste for salt and adjust.
Garnish: Top the cucumber salad with pepper flakes, basil, and sesame seeds, and serve.

Katerina’s Recipe Tips

When making this fresh and flavorful summer salad, there are a few helpful tips you should keep in mind:

Get Your Gloves: Seriously, friends, I highly recommend wearing food-prep gloves to work with jalapenos. They are quite spicy raw, and you don’t want irritated hands.
Taste and Taste Again: When it comes to the salad dressing, don’t be afraid to taste it several times along the way. The best dressings and vinaigrettes are balanced, meaning that no one ingredient outshines the others. If you taste it and it’s too sour, add more un-sour things, like oil or sugar. If it’s too salty, add a little bit more of everything except salt.
Get Creative: As with any recipe, don’t be afraid to change things up a bit! Maybe you want to use bell pepper instead of jalapeno for a less spicy dish? Go for it! Do you want to try apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar? No problem! Feel free to customize the dish to suit your tastes.

Serving Suggestions

Meatballs: Who doesn’t love meatballs? I know they’re a big favorite around here, and these crockpot Asian meatballs are especially delicious over rice, with a crispy, crunchy side of this sesame cucumber salad.
Chicken Breast: These juicy, garlic butter pan fried chicken breasts may just be the perfect chicken recipe. You’ll love them with this light summer salad.
Salmon: This maple teriyaki salmon is a gorgeous dinner on its own, but when paired with a fresh and crisp cucumber salad? It’s a knockout!

How to Store Extras

Fridge. You can store sesame cucumber salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Do not freeze it, or the cucumbers will become soft and mushy.

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