Shake Shake Garlic Cucumbers (Printable)

Quick crunchy cucumber salad with garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili flakes. Ready in 10 minutes.

# What you need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
02 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

→ Dressing

03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
05 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
06 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
07 - 1 teaspoon sugar
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

# Directions:

01 - Place the sliced cucumbers and minced garlic into a large, sealable jar or container.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili flakes, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves completely.
03 - Pour the dressing over the cucumbers in the jar. Seal tightly and shake vigorously for 30-60 seconds, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
04 - Let stand for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions if desired, and serve immediately. For extra chill, refrigerate before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the cold, crisp cucumbers and the punchy garlic-soy dressing creates this magical moment when your taste buds literally wake up.
  • You can make it in less time than it takes to set the table, which has rescued many of my last-minute dinner panics.
02 -
  • Using a jar with a tight seal makes all the difference, as the vigorous shaking helps the garlic flavor infuse much faster than just stirring.
  • If you slice the cucumbers too thick, the flavors stay on the surface instead of penetrating, which I discovered after wondering why my first attempt tasted bland compared to later versions.
03 -
  • For extra flavor infusion, massage the minced garlic directly into the cucumber slices with your fingers before adding the dressing, which releases more of the garlic oils into the vegetables.
  • If you have time, salting the cucumbers and letting them sit for 20 minutes before draining and adding the dressing intensifies both the crunch and flavor absorption.
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