Spicy Peanut Cucumber Salad

If you’re in the mood for a refreshing, crunchy salad, this Spicy Peanut Cucumber Salad is exactly what you need. Ready in under 10 minutes, it’s the perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and nutty, making it a fantastic snack or side dish. It contains fresh cucumber, carrot, and onion, tossed with a spicy, peanut butter based dressing.  It’s the perfect option if you want something that feels indulgent and is super nutritious.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy: This recipe comes together in just 10 minutes, making it the perfect quick bite when you’re feeling snacky but want to keep things light.
• Healthy and satisfying: Cucumbers bring a refreshing crunch, while the spicy peanut sauce adds a rich nuttiness that satisfies your taste buds without the need for heavy ingredients.

Customizable heat: You can easily adjust the spice level to suit your preferences, making it great for those who love to spice things up as well as though who prefer things more muted.

Why is spicy peanut cucumber salad so popular?

This salad checks all the boxes: it’s healthy, flavor-packed, and so easy to make.  Lately, cucumber salads have been trending on the internet, thanks to content creator @logagm who shares various ways he likes to eat an entire cucumber.  This spicy peanut cucumber salad was one of the recipes he shared and it’s easy to see why it has garnered the attention that it has!  

It should be noted, however, that the recipe itself is not completely new, as tossing cucumbers in a spicy peanut sauce can be found in various Asian dishes (like Pai Huang Gua, for example).

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Cucumbers:  I recommend using English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers for their crispness and mild flavor.
• Carrots: Provide additional crunch and sweetness and provide a supporting role to the cucumber, which is the star ingredient. 
• Onions: For additional sweetness and bite.  Try to go with white onion if you can help it as it has a sweeter flavor than yellow.
• Peanut Butter: The main component of the dressing that provides a rich, nutty base.  Feel free to use smooth or crunchy.
• Chili crunch: This is the source of our spice.  It not only brings the heat but the chili flakes give the dish additional texture.  Feel free to adjust the amount to your preferred level of heat.  You can also substitute with chili oil or sriracha.
• Soy sauce: Adds a savory depth that balances out the spiciness.
• Rice vinegar: The perfect touch of acidity that brightens the entire dish.
• Garlic: A must for adding aromatic depth.
• Agave or maple syrup: A hint of sweetness to balance out the tangy and spicy notes.
• Sesame seeds: For added texture and nuttiness.  Go with toasted sesame seeds for deeper sesame flavor.
• Cilantro: Adds a fresh, herbal finish.  If you’re not too keen on cilantro, feel free to leave it out and substitute with the thinly slice green onion (just the green part).

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables: Start by peeling and slicing your cucumbers into thin rounds or half-moons. I like to leave some of the skin on for added texture, but you can peel completely if you prefer a smoother bite.  You can also use a mandolin for thinner slices.  Chop the carrots, onions, and cilantro as well and set aside.
2. Make the Dressing: In a medium to large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili crunch, minced garlic, and agave. 
3. Toss and Combine: Add the cucumbers, carrots, onion and cilantro to the bowl with the dressing.  Toss until evenly coated. 
4. Garnish and Serve: Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Should I use a jar or bowl?

In my recipe video shared below, I shared how I like to use a near-empty jar of peanut butter to make this salad.  I simply add all the ingredients into the peanut butter jar and shake furiously.  The upside to this method is that there are less dishes to wash as you can simply enjoy your cucumber salad right out of the jar.

Unless you’re trying to use up the remaining peanut butter in your jar, I recommend making this the traditional way by using a large bowl.  By doing so you can ensure everything gets evenly tossed and coated with the dressing. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes! This salad can be prepared up to a day in advance. However, I recommend storing the dressing separately and tossing it with the cucumbers just before serving to keep them crisp.

Is this salad gluten-free?
You can easily make this salad gluten-free by using tamari or another gluten-free soy sauce alternative.

What other vegetables can I add?
Feel free to experiment! Adding thinly sliced bell peppers, radishes, or even cherry tomatoes would complement the flavors beautifully.