This 6-ingredient spicy Indonesian cucumber salad is a quick and refreshing vegan side salad with sliced cucumbers, green onions, and a lime and Sambal Oelek spicy dressing. It's made with no added oil and takes minutes to make.
Cucumber salads, like balsamic cucumber and green beans, are among my favorite recipes.
But I've had a love affair with this quick spicy cucumber salad recipe since my first visit to an Indonesian restaurant in The Hague many years ago. And yes, we faithfully ordered it every time we went.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
✔ A simple cucumber prep makes them tastier and crispier.
✔ Adjustable dressing ingredients depending on your heat preferences.
✔ Make this easy recipe in 10 minutes.
✔ Simple ingredients with no added oil for a low-fat, healthy side.
Ingredients, Notes, and Substitutions
Cucumbers. Use a fresh cucumber that is firm with no soft spots. English cucumbers (hot-house cucumbers) are the most common, but you can also use a few smaller Persian cucumbers or grab Kirby cucumbers from the farmer's market.
Sambal Oelek. Sambal is a spicy chili sauce made from red chili and vinegar and doesn't contain chili oil. Beware - it has a spicy kick! You can also use sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or add a few red pepper flakes.
Lime Juice. I experimented with combinations, but straight lime juice makes the best spicy dressing. Lemon juice is the best substitute. You can also use rice vinegar or mellow white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar also adds distinctive sharpness.
Fresh chili. A fresh red chili makes a colorful contrast. And, yep, more spice. I recommend deseeding and cutting the core from the chili.
Maple syrup. A touch of sweetness cut the sharpness of the citrus. Use date paste as a healthy alternative.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.
Recipe Variations
- Chickpeas or other beans are a great way to add protein and bulk up this salad.
- I've also added small, diced carrots to brighten and sweeten it up.
- Personally, I love this simple recipe, but you can add extras if you have them. Fresh herbs, like cilantro or a few chopped mint leaves, are tasty options.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut the cucumber into 2 pieces. Slice each piece lengthwise. Use a small spoon to scoop out the seeds and mushy middle. Lay each half flat and slice into half circles.
Step 2: Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
Step 3: Add the cucumber slices, sliced green onion, and red chili to a medium or large bowl.
Step 4: Stir the ingredients. Serve immediately or let it marinate at room temperature.
Pro Tips
- After rinsing the cucumber, whip away excess moisture with a paper towel.
- Removing the seeds from cucumbers helps them stay crispy for longer. The seeds and mushy center, add excess water. Yes, it's that simple! The thin skin of cucumbers doesn't need to be peeled. Skins provide nutrients and fiber, so don't peel if you don't have to.
- I prefer thin rather than thick slices of cucumber because they soak up the spicy dressing.
- As noted, Sambal Oelek is very spicy. Start with a little when you make the dressing. Taste and adjust.
Serving Suggestions
This is the perfect side dish for a variety of veggie burgers like baked tempeh burgers or quick tofu burgers. Aim for a main course that isn't too spicy.
You can also add this quick salad to bowls made with one-pot rice and beans, Instant Pot barley, or cooked wild rice for an easy weeknight dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cucumber peels are nutritious and safe to eat. Rinse or lightly scrub them if they are garden fresh. Dry them with a paper towel or dry them in a colander. If your cucumbers have been coated with wax, then you should peel them.
Salting cucumbers after slicing them helps reduce any excess liquid, so the dressing isn't diluted. Salt also makes cucumbers taste better for some people. For best results, consider the dressing ingredients. Prepared chili sauces or soy sauce can contain a significant amount of sodium.
Cucumber salad is best eaten within 1 day of making it. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and plan to eat it the next day. If you make it a few hours ahead, you can leave it at room temperature. It will marinate the spicy sauce. If you remove the cucumbers, they will stay crispy.
Look for bottles of Sambal Oelek amongst the condiments with other chili sauces. If you can't find it in the grocery store, it's usually available in Asian markets. Of course, it's available online from a number of sources.
More Easy Vegan Side Salads
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👩🏻🍳 Recipe
Spicy Indonesian Cucumber Salad
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Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 small red chili - thinly sliced
- 3 -4 medium green onions - white parts thinly sliced
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1-2 teaspoon sambal oelek - or another chili paste
- 2 teaspoon. maple syrup
Instructions
- Cut the cucumber in half and slice each half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to remove the seeds and mushy middle. Then slice into thin half circles and add them to a small salad bowl.
- Prep the red chili and green onions (scallions). Add them to the cucumbers.
- Combine lime juice, Sambal Oelek, and maple syrup in a small bowl.
- Add the dressing to the cucumber and mix well.
- Serve immediately or allow the cucumber to marinate.
Notes
- Sambal Oelek is very spicy. Add 1 teaspoon to start and more if you want it spicier.
- Cucumber salad is best eaten within 1 day of making it. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and plan to eat it the next day.
- Cucumber peels are nutritious and safe to eat. Rinse or lightly scrub them if they are garden fresh. Dry them with a paper towel or dry them in a colander. If your cucumbers have been coated with wax, then you should peel them.
- Look for bottles of Sambal Oelek amongst the condiments with other chili sauces. If you can't find it in the grocery store, it's available in Asian markets or online.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Karly
Love quick salad ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Denise
Enjoy! This is one of our favorites. I'm always up for quick and easy.