Japanese Edamame Cucumber Salad (Printable)
Crisp cucumbers and tender edamame tossed in a bright sesame dressing make this refreshing Japanese-style side perfect for any meal.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 1/2 cups shelled edamame, fresh or frozen
02 - 2 medium Japanese cucumbers or English cucumbers, thinly sliced
03 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
→ Dressing
04 - 2 tbsp soy sauce, gluten-free if needed
05 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
06 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
07 - 1 tsp sugar or maple syrup
08 - 1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger
09 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
→ Garnish
10 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
11 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, optional
# Steps:
01 - Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add edamame and cook for 3–5 minutes until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool quickly.
02 - Slice cucumbers thinly and place in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and let sit for 5 minutes, then pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, grated ginger, and minced garlic until smooth and well combined.
04 - Add cooked edamame, sliced cucumbers, and green onions to the mixing bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and cilantro, if using. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Ready in under 20 minutes but tastes like you spent forever on it
- The sesame ginger dressing is something you will want to put on everything
- Perfect for meal prep and actually gets better after sitting overnight
02 -
- Dry those cucumbers really well or the dressing will get watery and lose its punch
- The salad tastes even better after 30 minutes in the fridge, so feel free to make it ahead
03 -
- Use a mandoline if you have one for perfectly even cucumber slices
- Grate the ginger directly into the bowl so you do not lose any of those flavorful juices