This Japanese cucumber salad recipe with Wafu dressing is a sunomono variation that is light, refreshing, and super yummy!
Wafu Cucumber Salad
Wafu translates to Japanese-style, and this Wafu cucumber salad recipe is a variation of a Japanese cucumber salad called kyuri sunomono in Japan. It is a simple salad that is quick and easy to make, and a wonderful appetizer or side dish to serve with other Asian recipes and more.
This Asian cucumber salad is a little different than traditional sunomono. I made my recipe with a flavorful homemade Wafu salad dressing that is sweet, spicy, tangy, and delicious! The Wafu dressing is also low-carb, low-calorie, gluten-free, sugar-free, and keto-friendly. Since this salad is so light, fresh, and crisp, it makes the perfect summer side salad, but it is great all year and pairs well with many things, including seafood, chicken, and plant-based recipes.
What to Serve with a Japanese-Style Cucumber Salad
I have listed a few ideas of what to serve with a Japanese-style cucumber salad for you to try.
- Cedar Plank Salmon
- Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
- Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
- Easy Chicken Teriyaki
- Garlic Lime Shrimp with Coconut Rice
- Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Kabobs
- Roasted Vegetable Stir Fry
- Seasame Glazed Salmon
- Vegan Pad Thai
- Vegetable Lo Mein
Japanese Cucumber Salad Recipe Ingredients
These Japanese cucumber salad recipe ingredients include fresh, crisp cucumbers and a quick and easy homemade Wafu salad dressing.
- Cucumbers: Thinly sliced Japanese cucumbers called kyuri, or Persian cucumbers work best. I use mini cucumbers, which are mini Persian cucumbers. Mini cucumbers are inexpensive and easy to find at most grocery stores. However, using Japanese cucumbers will create a more authentic kyuri sunomono. If you have some extra cucumbers, try making this Greek Cucumber Salad.
- Japanese-Style Dressing: The Wafu salad dressing ingredients are listed in the next section.
Optional Garnish:
- Almonds: Chopped or crushed Garlic Roasted Almonds to add healthy plant protein, flavor, and crunch! Not a traditional sunomono ingredient, but I love the flavor, texture, and health benefits they add to the cucumber salad.
- Toasted sesame seeds: Extra toasted sesame seeds or hemp hearts are also a great way to add additional plant-based protein.
Wafu Dressing
This Wafu dressing recipe is low-carb, low-calorie, gluten-free, sugar-free, and keto-friendly. The following Wafu dressing ingredients can easily be modified to suit your taste. This Japanese-style salad dressing is also wonderful with other things, so feel free to make more!
Wafu Dressing Ingredients
- tamari: I use low-sodium gluten-free tamari, but you can use soy sauce as a substitute.
- unseasoned rice vinegar
- toasted sesame oil
- garlic: minced fresh garlic.
- ginger: grated fresh ginger.
- sweetener: I use stevia to make a low-carb and sugar-free dressing. However, regular granulated sugar and brown sugar work, as well as other alternative sweeteners.
- sesame seeds: white or black.
- crushed red pepper flakes: This adds a little heat. You can easily omit or use less if you do not like spicy food. If you like it hot, feel free to use more!
- coriander: ground coriander powder is warm, spicy, and nutty with a hint of citrus.
How to Make a Japanese Cucumber Salad
To make a Japanese Cucumber Salad, first, make the Wafu dressing. Add all the ingredients to a bowl, then whisk to combine, or add the ingredients to a small container with a lid, then shake well to combine.
Notes: You can make the dressing in advance and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge until ready to use. I usually make a double batch or more of the dressing to keep on hand for quick and easy meal prep. Just give the dressing a good shake before using it.
Next, thinly slice the cucumbers, place in a serving bowl, pour the Wafu dressing over the cucumbers, then gently toss or stir to coat the cucumbers in the dressing.
Allow the cucumbers to soak up the sauce for a few minutes, then garnish with extra sesame seeds and chopped Garlic Roasted Almonds if desired.
I do not recommend storing the prepared cucumber salad since cucumbers have a high water content and can become soggy. So, serve it immediately and enjoy!
Japanese Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb. mini cucumbers thinly sliced (see notes)
Wafu Dressing
- 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon sweetener (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds white or black.
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
Instructions
- Make the Wafu dressing. Add all the ingredients to a bowl, then whisk to combine, or add the ingredients to a small container with a lid, then shake well to combine. (See notes)
- Thinly slice the cucumbers, place in a serving bowl, pour the Wafu dressing over the cucumbers, then gently toss or stir to coat the cucumbers in the dressing. Allow the cucumbers to marinate for a few minutes.
- Garnish with extra sesame seeds and/or chopped Garlic Roasted Almonds if desired. (see notes) Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Wafu Dressing: You can make the dressing in advance and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge until ready to use. I usually make a double batch or more of the dressing to keep on hand for quick and easy meal prep. Just give the dressing a good shake before using it.
- Storage: I do not recommend storing the prepared cucumber salad since cucumbers have a high water content and can become soggy.
- Cucumbers: Thinly sliced Japanese cucumbers called kyuri, or Persian cucumbers work best. I normally use mini cucumbers, which are mini Persian cucumbers. The mini cucumbers are inexpensive and easy to find at most grocery stores. However, using Japanese cucumbers will create a more authentic kyuri sunomono.
- Sweetener: I use stevia to make a low-carb and sugar-free dressing. However, regular granulated sugar and brown sugar work, as well as other alternative sweeteners.
- Almonds: Chopped or crushed Garlic Roasted Almonds to add healthy plant protein, flavor, and crunch! Not a traditional sunomono ingredient, but I love the flavor, texture, and health benefits they add to the cucumber salad. If you want to add them, make them in advance so they are completely cooled.
- Toasted sesame seeds: Extra toasted sesame seeds or hemp hearts are also a great way to add additional plant-based protein.
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