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Asian pickled cucumbers served in a modern bowl on a kitchen counter

Asian Pickled Cucumbers


  • Author: Mohamed Ayad
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

These quick Asian pickled cucumbers are crisp, tangy, and lightly sweet with a savory sesame-soy finish. Made with thin-skinned cucumbers, garlic, and ginger, they’re an easy, refreshing side or snack that comes together quickly and keeps well in the fridge.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces thin-skinned cucumbers
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lite soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons agave syrup
  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste or 1-inch fresh ginger, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 to 1 cup cold water
  • Optional: sesame seeds, sliced shallots, green onions


Instructions

  1. Wash the cucumbers, trim the ends, and slice them thinly without peeling.
  2. Place the sliced cucumbers in a bowl, sprinkle with salt, and toss to coat evenly.
  3. Let the cucumbers rest for 15 to 20 minutes to release excess moisture.
  4. Meanwhile, mix rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, agave syrup, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a separate bowl.
  5. Lift the cucumbers out of their liquid without rinsing and add them to the marinade.
  6. Pour in enough cold water to just cover the cucumbers and gently stir.
  7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving, or longer for deeper flavor.

Notes

  1. Thin-skinned cucumbers like English or Persian work best for this recipe.
  2. Do not rinse the salt off the cucumbers, as it helps season them properly.
  3. Pickling time can be adjusted depending on how strong you like the flavor.
  4. These pickles are best enjoyed within three to four days for optimal crunch.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Pickling
  • Cuisine: American, Asian Fusion

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 0.5 cups
  • Calories: 60
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 1891 mg
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g
  • Fiber: 0.3 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg