Cucumber salad with dressing

Light and refreshing , cucumber salad is one of the most fashionable recipes: It is delicious with the dressing I bring you today! But without a doubt, other great advantages are the ease of preparation and its benefits for our skin (Among many others!).

In this salad, crunchy cucumbers are paired with a delicious Asian-inspired dressing, enhanced with a special touch of sesame and a bit of heat from chili. Best of all, you only need a few minutes to prepare the dressing and let the cucumbers marinate, absorbing all those flavors that combine so well.

Ideal as an accompaniment to a fish dish, as a first course after a while at the pool in summer or even as a light main course for dinner, I hope that this salad becomes, as it has at home, one of your favorite summer salads .

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 2 large cucumbers
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
• Fresh coriander leaves

For the dressing:

• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp sugar, or honey or maple syrup*
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 small red chili (or bell pepper for a less spicy version)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 pinch of black pepper

* NOTE: With the sugar or honey we want to add a touch of sweetness to the mixture, which is definitely beneficial. If you don't want to add any of these sweeteners, you can add some pieces of apple instead (green or Golden, but firm).

Preparation

1. Wash and cut the cucumbers into thin strips or slices, according to your preference, and place them in a large bowl (use a kitchen mandolin to ensure even, fast and perfect cuts).
2. Finely chop the garlic and set aside; also chop the chili very finely.
3. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic and grated ginger. Add the chopped red chili (or bell pepper) to the dressing. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste.
4. Pour the dressing over the sliced ​​cucumbers and mix well, so that the cucumbers are well coated with the dressing.
5. Let the salad marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. We want the cucumbers to be well coated with the dressing.
6. Serve the salad cold. Before serving, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
   
   

I hope you enjoy this salad as much as you enjoy summer! (Or should I say that the other way around?)